“I got beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes, lamb, rams, hogs, dogs, chicken, turkey. You name it!” These lyrics sung by the incomparable gospel artist and legend Shirley Caesar will undoubtedly be on repeat leading up to the holiday known for its bountiful feast…Thanksgiving.
This holiday tradition for decades has been an outward display of “thanks” via a soulful culinary presentation provided by the best family cook in many homes across the country.
I know in my house the menu gets planned seemingly a month prior in anticipation, knowing that it more often than not will be the same as previous years. Turkey and its many ways to prepare rules the day, but what about our thankfulness?
Looking back over the past year or better that brought us many societal issues and the pandemic raising its ugly head, some may find themselves caught up in the issues swirling around them and may lose sight of the many things that we have to be thankful for. In my own life, I have to admit that at one point I was caught up too.
Then throw in the mix of everyday things that we may take for granted in our lives, such as waking up in the morning, safe travels to and from work, seeing or speaking with our loved ones, and the many things we do on the daily without thinking—or, more to the point, without thanking.
Being thankful requires one to recognize and appreciate that a blessing exists, no matter how big or small and no matter the situation you may find yourself in. The Bible tells us to “count it all joy.” An excellent way to keep yourself fully present and in tune with your daily blessings is to keep a gratitude journal. Write down any and everything that you are thankful for, and you will begin to notice a shift in your life.
Most people, if asked the question “What are you thankful for?” would probably have a long list of surface-level responses, but I offer that we should go deeper than that. Our thankfulness or our gratitude should be reflected in how we live out our lives.
When you live a life of appreciation, it not only shows up in your own life in a positive way, but it often shows up in the lives of others. When you are genuinely thankful for the blessings in your life, look for ways in which you can bless someone else. It can be as simple as an encouraging word, helping them in an area that is needed or giving them guidance in their career or business.
As we enter this holiday season, let’s be mindful that Thanksgiving is only one day but being thankful should be our constant state of mind as we acknowledge and show gratitude for our blessings. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is God’s will for you in Christ… Amen.”
Toi Salter is the founder of Salter Financial Management, a wealth and business management company for professional athletes. A longtime champion of youth and education, she is also known for her philanthropic efforts and community service.
