Thanksgiving Gratitude

Thanksgiving in the U.S. is right around the corner, and with it comes the tendency to oftentimes jump into overdrive taking inventory of our blessings! I never want it to be the stereotypical thing for me or my family to do so I’ve tried to be better about counting blessings of thankfulness YEAR-ROUND instead.

Research shows that when we concentrate on an attitude of gratitude, giving notice and calling out the things we’re thankful for it leads to:

Growing our relationship with Jesus, overall happiness, better mental health, positive relationships, higher energy levels, improved self-esteem, mercy and grace for ourself and others, creates positive thought patterns, lowers stress and anxiety, plus it causes us to be present in the moment.

Recently I picked up a small, blank notebook from the store to serve as a gratitude journal and have been journaling little notes of thankfulness. I’ve not made it an everyday thing at this point but I aim to. There’s a ton of good resources on Pinterest or Google to spur ideas on gratitude topics, including sentence starters.

Gratitude encourages us to look at the glass half full rather than half empty. It takes practice like any good habit but it is achievable and so worth the effort!!

“Gratitude can boost neurotransmitter serotonin and activate the brain stem to produce dopamine. Dopamine is our brain’s pleasure chemical. The more we think positive, grateful thoughts, the healthier and happier we feel.” Cerebral Cortex

I’m subbing today so my time is short while my class is at music, but wanted to share with you a poem my youngest daughter wrote. I’ll leave you with her words as a Thanksgiving blessing and also share a picture of our planters on our front porch. I couldn’t stand seeing them empty during these cold months so I dressed them up for fall and am already looking forward to changing them up for Christmas! I’ll maybe do a DIY as I decorate them for Christmas!

Until next time, sweet autumn blessings and a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

THANKSGIVING

Leaves fall red, brown, yellow.
In the distance neighbors say hello.

Turkey in hand,
open the door to smells so grand.

Sit down in your place,
and now let’s say grace.


—Mckenzie W.

Author: alimw2013

About For His Purpose~ My name is Alicia and I'm a thirty-something year old who loves Jesus. Only through God’s amazing grace and mercy I have been redeemed from past regret and shame. Reading His word has allowed me to look past Satan’s forceful lies, to see myself for who Christ says I am in Him. Through writing I have learned why I made the choices I made in my younger years and I now have a better understanding of why I desire to love God like crazy these days. Despite my daily failures, God remains faithful always. I am reassured of His unconditional love for me by every ink-drop spilled out on paper, each committed prayer as I cry out to Him, and deep understanding reflected through reading His word as truth. Yes keeping a blog will make me vulnerable to others’ opinions- there will be some who don’t understand, some who may criticize or judge, but on the other hand if just one piece expressed through my writing grabs someone’s attention and directs them to God, then pouring out my heart in a blog for the world to read is worth it. I choose to glorify Him alone through words streaming across a glowing screen. And it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t reveal the fact that I’m incredibly quirky; I’m my loving husband’s best friend, my vivacious kids’ craziest cheerleader and spiritual trainer (3 John 1:4). I love anything farmhouse and rustic style. I think cupping a warm coffee mug in the palm of my hands is more satisfying than the contents within. I share a common obsession with my husband for the mountains, but I would (without a doubt) settle for waves crashing against my legs at the Atlantic Ocean just as well, and I almost always have a Yorkie curled up on my lap while writing. *All photos are photographed by forhispurpose.blog and therefore may not be stored or photocopied in any manner.

35 thoughts on “Thanksgiving Gratitude”

  2. Being thankful sure helps ones disposition on days like today (very cold, snowing, blowing and gray day). So, I spent the morning in the kitchen making apple jalapeno jelly for Christmas giveaways with my wife. I liked your decorations and couldn’t help but marvel at your creativity. I made a sled yesterday for my atv, mostly out of wood. What you made with a little end of wood was what I threw (a whole bunch of wood ends) in a burn pile. I am thankful for your creativity showing me I could do a lot more with what I have (and we have a sawmill).

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    1. Oh nice!! That sounds like a great way to spend a cold day…between jelly and sled making!! And thanks for your encouraging words!!
      I haven’t forgotten about the sign I plan to make and send for the cabin, just had a busy November! December is when I typically crunch in as many crafts as possible (procrastination gives me motivation I guess) so the sign I make you will fall into that category as I do some DIY Christmas gifts for family!!

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  3. Isn’t keeping a gratitude journal an uplifting exercise? I’ve found that just reviewing the delights of the day, to decide what one or two blessings to record, my spirit is encouraged. / I like the idea of sentence starters! Will have to check out what pinterest has to offer. Thank you for the tip, Alicia!

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    1. Ya it makes such a difference!!

      And yes topic starters such as writing about a childhood memory you’re thankful for, a favorite color your thankful for, a kind act you were thankful to receive, etc…I sometimes need those little spurs to get going!;)

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  4. A sweet poem by your daughter and the decorated planters look good.
    Love what you said about gratitude being an ongoing practice. I started writing down what I am thankful for a while ago. I have started before but always end up giving up eventually, mostly because the intention was for it to be a daily thing and when I do not do so, I kinda give up. Realised that I should stick with it, to just write whenever I think about it. It has become more of a regular thing now and I am thankful for that.
    Have a wonderful weekend 💙💐

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  5. I love this post. Gratitude is something I am drawn too. Yet I still allow circumstances to take my attention away from the good, as I focus on the stress. So thank you for this encouragement. I am always eager to read more on gratitude. It always inspires me to do better. I do keep a gratitude journal. I started it when I read Ann Voskamp’s Book “One Thousand Gifts.” Looking back I can see how keeping up with this has helped me to have more contentment overall. It helps me to see how much God has been there for me, and helps me to trust Him more. I loved the poem your daughter wrote. Thank you for sharing that with us. And I really love the planters too! So pretty and festive!

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    1. Bridget, yes I think of you when I come across the word gratitude because I know your post have pointed to this topic several times and it’s been such an encouragement to me!! Like you said ‘contentment’ and ‘trust in Him’ follow right along, and make for a sweet result of gratitude!! I’m thankful for your comment and hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  6. We can never have too much gratitude, can we? I find that the simplest things are often the sweetest things to thank God for. Thank you for this beautiful reminder to do that. I love McKenzie’s poem! And your porch decorations, too! May you and your family have a very blessed Thanksgiving. I am thankful for YOU, Alicia.

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      4. Awe that’s really sweet…You don’t need to do that, Nathan said he wanted to order the rubber pads I guess along with some other things that it could use! Apparently I have a headlight out too! 😅😂

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  9. Pingback: Thanksgiving Gratitude — For His Purpose – QuietMomentsWithGod

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