This is the time of year when people start thinking about what they are thankful for. They share these thoughts with their family and friends, especially on Thanksgiving day or weekend. A number of people may reply that they are thankful for their family and friends. That is great, but what if you had the chance to look wider and deeper for the things you are thankful for? 

Taking the time everyday to look over what happened, what you saw, what you felt that day and writing it down in a journal. You just might find it interesting what you have written down. 

This does take practice and some days you may have a hard time coming up with something you feel is appropriate to write down. It could be something as simple as “I am grateful for being alive today.” “I am thankful for the sunshine.” Or it could be something bigger like, “I am grateful to be cancer free today.” 

It is different for all of us and it is different every day. Ask the Lord to help you, then take the time to sit for a moment, to look at your day and write down what you remember being thankful / grateful for. Don’t forget after a few months or so take some time to look back at what you wrote when you started. You may be surprised to see how you have grown, what you may have taken for granted before is what you feel thankful / grateful for now. 

Thanksgiving comes once a year.
Gratitude is here all year long.
Thanksgiving is a special time to be with family.
Gratitude for our families is all year long.
What do you do?
Are you thankful one day a year?
Or are you grateful all year long?

-Sr. Barb Knauf