Gratitude

Today here at school, all I see around me are kids with Indian hats on, fall decorations, the smell of our Thanksgiving feast, and happy faces by all (especially the teachers)...which can only mean one thing...Thanksgiving is here!  Now, we all know about Thanksgiving and how we should all be thankful for everything we have and how we are so blessed.  Yes, yes and yes.  We should be thankful everyday.  Just recently, the Lord has been showing and teaching me something new about Thanksgiving.

What's the first thing that pops in your head about Thanksgiving (other than a full belly)?  Thankfulness or gratitude, right?  Well, when I thought of gratitude, immediately, the Lord put this word in my mind...generosity.  Call me crazy, but I had never thought about this before, but gratitude and generosity completely go hand in hand!

I wrote this on my twitter a couple of days ago (yes, I tweet...@elizabethh3, and if you don't, you should), "Gratitude is shown through generosity.  You have been blessed, so be a blessing to someone else today".

Really...when you think about it, how do you express your gratitude?  You say "thank you" right?  Well, yes that's one way, but being generous by far shows your gratefulness the most!  You know the saying, "actions speak louder than words", it's true.

If you are reading this, chances are you have a computer, chances are you are under a roof, chances are you are probably having a nice drink or snack right now as well.  If so, you are among the top 5% of the wealthiest people in the world.  You have been blessed.

I want to be more like Him.  I give because He gave me life.  Who am I to keep everything He's given me to myself?  How else is a better way to share the love of Christ?  This Thanksgiving, I'm grateful, very grateful for my life and everything/everyone in it.  I know you're thankful too, but this year, show your thanks through generosity.  It will bless you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life."  -1 Timothy 6:17-19