Is it just me, or does it seem like this year the Christmas decorations began popping up BEFORE Halloween was even over?  The commercialism of the Christmas season seems to be overpowering many beautiful things about the Holidays, including Thanksgiving.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the Christmas season.  It really is, in my opinion, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” but I do get a little saddened when Thanksgiving goes unnoticed.

I believe that celebrating Thanksgiving as a time of reflection and maybe even soul searching about the things we are truly thankful for, is vital.

I am willing to bet that for one reason or another, this year has been  hard for many people.  I know it’s been hard for us at times.  But I have found that it is during the hard times that being thankful is the most important.

Let me pause for a moment to give you an example straight out of the pages of the book of my life.  Right at this very moment, even as I type these words, two of my children are weeping and whaling because they both want to be the one to put a simple bag away.  There is an entire toy room to clean up, but it is thatbag that will define their lives so much so that they have to spend all of their time and energy arguing over it. 

Charming. 

And it is also right at this very moment that I am trying to focus on how thankful I am for my wonderful children.  Sometimes it’s hard.  But, because I am in the “thankful” mindest, because I am writing this very post, I am doing my best to remind myself how thankful I am that my house is not quiet.  That my house is not empty.  That my house is a home where some screaming, arguing, hugging, and laughter all take place.  That even with the screaming and yelling, over that blasted bag, I am thankful that those kids are mine and that I get to be here through it all.

I am thankful for having to tighten our belts a bit when it comes to spending.  That has helped me learn the value of hard work, and more importantly, it has shown me what things are really important.  Most of the time the things that are important aren’t things.

I am thankful that my husband has been working long hours to provide for our family.  That has helped me realize how much I love to have him around, and what a valiant man he is.

Finally, I am thankful that my kids argue, while politeness is a virtue, I am so glad that they are passionate people.  When channeled in the right avenues, I know that will take them far.

So, I would like to encourage youto think about the things that might be making your life difficult, then think about how you can learn to be grateful for them.  It may just change your life.