Giving Thanks… in Triumph or Trial

I would wager heavily… that each and every one of us have had times… where coming up with a reason for praise or thanks took a bit of thought. It is so easy to get consumed by the struggles we are going through… that sometimes we have to pause for a moment of reflection to come up with a positive spin.

On the other side… I know there are also times where even the most ardent of pessimists amongst us… have cracked a smile… or maybe even chuckled. It is easy to be thankful in these moments.

Maybe it is a little easier for the optimist to find that light amongst the dark. But even they sometimes have to work for that positive attitude. Pessimism and self pity seem to come easy for most of us. But they are only easier initially… kind of like procrastination. These sentiments tend to dig us deeper into holes… that are even harder to get out of. A little optimism might help us avoid stepping in those holes in the first place.

But of course, there are holes in life we cannot avoid. And sometimes we have no choice but to take the time to deal with the grief that comes as a result. Taking the time to deal with that adequately is necessary to build the strength to climb out of that hole… and stay out. Try to climb out too soon and you may fall back in. But eventually… we need to climb out into the light. And there is a hand that can help pull us out!

I am not sure if I am an optimist… or a pessimist by nature. Although I think my Faith has tipped me toward the optimist side of that fence. What is the song?... ”I found the happy side of life…”. The song is a little cheesy for me… but a little bit of Faith can go a long way to help us deal with the challenges we face. I think the nurturing bed of Love it provides… helps to sprout Peace even amongst trials… which grows into Hope in our heart… that eventually blooms into Joy in our spirit. Like the candles representing the season of advent… that so closely follows Thanksgiving!

I pray none of you need to work too hard to come up with a number of reasons to be thankful as we go into this Thanksgiving holiday! If it does take a moment of reflection to get there… Take that Moment. Find that reason for thanks. Hold fast to it as we enter the advent season. Maybe set up some candles in a wreath… and pray as you light each candle… reflecting on the theme and reason for each.  Maybe that little spark and flame can kindle a fire in your heart… that can keep you warm through the winter ahead!

Wow… and I said the song was cheesy! But there is truth in it… “I found the happy side of life… I found the happy side of life… With Jesus as my savior… (clap)… I found the way! … I found the happy side of… I found the happy side of… I found the happy side of life! The Happy Side”.

So regardless if your celebration is big… or small… Happy Thanksgiving!!!