"With A Heart Full Of Thanksgiving"

Well here we are the Month of October and just around the corner we will be gathering around our tables celebrating "Thanksgiving!" What does thanksgiving really mean for you and me is the question? Today not too many people practice thanksgiving they are consumed with themselves and what they can gain or achieve! Some become so relentless that they compromise themselves to reach that goal or position! But today I want to share on the meaning of Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving in the Bible means to respond to God's goodness and grace with gratitude. The word for giving thanks in the Old Testament means to raise hands to God in gratitude.

Ann Voskamp says it best: “When I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, I make a place for God to grow within me.” How true is this!

We can change our everyday ungratefulness to becoming more grateful and allowing GOD to grow within us.I want you to think about this and go back through the past year and begin to note all the little things God did for you and how those blessings came to you even when you went through the hard times and trials. When we unleash thankfulness and gratitude in our life and hearts we become different people, we are more appreciative of those around us! Reflect on this today open up your heart and let the love of God and the Spirit of God fill your heart with true gratitude and thankfulness! Anger, disappointment, failure, and frustration are parts of life, but don’t let them become your default emotions. Don’t be complacent and resign yourself to victimhood. Choosing to live from a place of gratitude brings peace.Build gratitude around you with small, daily, unexpected, undeserved acts of love, compassion, grace, and forgiveness.Don’t allow other people’s bitterness or negativity, or any other outward circumstance, to influence your inner peace. Look for the best in everyone, and believe and say the best about them.Tell other people “thank you” when they do something kind for you, no matter how small the deed.

Luke 17:11-19 talks about the miracle of the 10 lepers that Jesus healed when He sent them off to show themselves to the priests, as they went only one came back to thanks Jesus!

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

I can say that this past year I have seen God come through for me and my family is such an incredible way! He is faithful always and He is searching for those that will recognize what He does for us daily and turn and thank Him. There is power in a grateful heart!

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving full of blessings!

P. Mary Di Paolo Nero