Why Thanksgiving Isn't Just for Gratitude

I don't know why I thought I was going to roast a turkey this Thanksgiving. My picture-perfect holiday wasn't happening and I was on the verge of a major breakdown (Pathetic much, really? Why do we care so much, ladies?!) My husband spent the prior weekend in the hospital with what we thought was a ruptured appendix and we both hadn't eaten any real food in three days. It gave a whole new meaning to skinny, but in a bad way. After a steady diet of chicken broth and jello, changing the bed sheets in my son's nursery what seemed like every night, and hyper-disinfecting every nook and cranny in our house, it hit me. Thanksgiving is not for gratitude. Yes, I repeat: Thanksgiving is not the only day we should be grateful.

At my lowest points, I am reminded to chose an "attitude of gratitude" as my pastor puts it. When everything is against me, I can put my faith on display rather than my anxieties and fears.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

Leading a faith-first lifestyle is hard. But you know people who always seem to have a world-ending story about how their life is going down in flames? Me too. Heck, there have been times where I have been that girl! Conviction sets in for me real hard and I think about how I want to be remembered. Do I want to be known as someone who loves misery and doubts the goodness of God? Or do I want to lead a faith-first lifestyle, thanking God in the middle of my storms and believing He is still good.

(Cue Good, Good Father). I am funny, honestly.

In all seriousness, I hope you had a fantastic holiday where you were able to pause and reflect on what you were grateful for this year. The dreams, the heartbreaks, the disappointments, the new milestones - all of it! And we don't have the last Thursday in November to have a moment of thankfulness. There are 364 other days to get an attitude check. I am committing to it. Will you join me?

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