I am thankful for....

At the end of the sermon a few weeks ago, Jim gave us two homework assignments.  One was to focus on our blessings in our prayers.  The other was to write statements each day beginning with "I am thankful for..." and continue that until Dec. 31.

I thought it would be good for Gary and me to do that....the journal part of it at least.  I found an old notebook and tore out the used pages.  I was excited!  Then he told me that HE did not want to write anything, but he did tell me and I wrote it in the journal.  Actually I lke that method better because I can hear what he says and I can comment if I want to.

Our statements have ranged from being thankful for family to acts of nature or other things that happen to us on a daily basis.  The grandchildren have been a focus several times.  Going to see The Nutcracker was my 'I am thankful for" on Friday and we both mentioned the Purdue Christmas Show for Saturday's entry.

Several pluses from this activity -   One is the focus on being thankful each day.  Often we think the day is a 'horrible, no good, terrible, very bad day' and we don't realize just how wrong that perception is.  Every day we can find something, at least one thing, that we can offer thanks for.  The second is that if we ever look back at the journal, it will spark some memories of times, events, or people long forgotten.  Third, it prompts good discussion between the two of us.  Sometimes Gary is thankful for me, and I am thankful for him (like the day he decorated outside).

Try it!  Even though Thanksgiving is past, that doesn't mean that we stop being thankful for our blessings. Too often we focus on the bad things that happen, or the negative in the day's activities, or problems we have.  We forget just how lucky we are.