Mindful Gratitude

It's almost Thanksgiving.  I love this holiday because it's about relationships and food. Throw in some football, strategic planning for Black Friday shopping, maybe a walk and most certainly a nap, and you have the making of a terrific day.   No pressure, just pleasure.  It's a day to be thankful for so much.

This year I have been trying to practice daily thanks giving or what I call mindful gratitude.   I just have too much to be thankful for to squash it all into one day.  I can't honestly say that I am grateful for all circumstances but I am mindful that I am blessed. 

I am blessed by a God who loves me unconditionally and has a plan for my life far greater than I could purpose for myself.  I am blessed that my God has graciously offered salvation and then had the patience to wait until I willingly accepted His gift.  I am blessed to be embraced as one of His holy children.

I am mindful daily of new starts, second chances and forgiveness beyond understanding.  I am grateful for a God of immeasurable grace.

And as I practice mindful gratitude, I am also keenly aware that I am called to pass on the blessings ~ both to those I know and don't know, to those I love and those I don't.   So maybe  Thanksgiving is more than a time of friendship, food and football.  Maybe it's like a reset button so as we give thanks for our bounty, we are resetting our mindful gratitude button to give thanks daily throughout the year ~ and so pass on the blessings to others.