Let’s Give Ourselves a Time Out—For Gratitude!

Too often we wait until November, the month of thanks—or even the very end of the year—to focus on things we’re grateful for, but let’s take a time out to do it today.

After all, we should have thankful hearts all year long, right? Sometimes we let life blaze past us, forgetting to truly appreciate and express gratitude for the blessings in our lives. So let’s do our best from now on to continually cultivate thankful hearts—and we can start by being intentional about it today.

Since we’ve almost reached the midpoint of 2017, let’s each give some thought to the top ten things we’re most grateful for so far this year. Limiting it to this year will help us focus our thoughts on the most recent events in our lives rather than thinking of the general things that always come to mind when giving thanks.

Here’s my Top Ten Gratitude List thus far for 2017:

  1. I’m thankful for being able to trust God for the outcome of a big personal prayer concern as well as some work-related concerns. So grateful for the peace and rest I find in trusting him.
  2. I’m thankful for the times we’ve spent with our daughters, sons-in-law, and two sets of twin grandsons. So thankful for sweet baby smiles and little boy laughter, for snuggly cuddles and precious hugs. Thankful for trips to the zoo and for seeing baby milestones achieved.
  3. I’m thankful my dad, my sister Carolyn, and I got to go meet the newest member of our extended family—Jaxon, my niece Joanna’s baby and my sister Janice’s first grandbaby.
  4. I’m thankful for God’s Word and how he has used it to guide me and to strengthen and encourage me and how he’s allowed me to share it with others through my writing.
  5. I’m thankful to have reached one of my main author marketing goals for the year—participating in bridal fairs.  This has been a challenge because of high vendor fees, but God has led me to two so far on the lower end of the expense spectrum.
  6. I’m thankful for safe travel in all my trips to see our grandkids and also travel associated with my writing. For example, on one trip to Little Rock, I had three close calls on the interstate. I don’t take safe travel for granted.
  7. I’m thankful for the beautiful job Stephanie Wheatley of Wheatley Design did on the Wedding Inspiration cards I developed. Also very thankful for God’s leading in this project as well as my daughter Kristin’s help with various aspects of it.
  8. I’m thankful for good health for Don and me through cold and flu season. Also very thankful that God kept our grandbabies protected from the flu.
  9. I’m thankful for a quick getaway to Branson with Don in May. It had been over five years since we had been there. It was so good to enjoy Silver Dollar City once again—a place where my entire family has many great memories together.
  10. And finally, I’m thankful Don is carrying a lighter teaching load in summer school this summer. Since his Microbiology class is filled beyond capacity, he could never have kept up with all the extra work that causes plus teach Anatomy & Physiology the way he normally does as well.

So there’s my top ten—how about yours? I think you’ll find that when you get started, it will be hard to stop at ten!

“Come and see what God has done, the amazing things he has done for people.” Psalm 66:5 NCV

*What are you grateful for so far in 2017?

*Flickr photo by RnD.de.Portraits, Creative Commons License

Comments

  1. Such an encouraging list! I don’t know if I can write a well-organized list, but lately I am full of gratitude for the fellowship I share with my savior, for God’s word and the privilege of prayer. I’m grateful that spiritual growth continues after following Christ for so many years. The rest of my thanks are offshoots from this foundation.
    Thanks for the invitation to give thanks! It does the heart good.

    • Jane, thanks so much for sharing! I’m so glad this post was a blessing to you. I love how the things you are grateful for spring from your relationship to God, his Word, and prayer. Everything we have and are comes from him, doesn’t it? And I agree that giving thanks does indeed do our hearts good! Blessings, friend!

  2. Cheryl,

    It’s nice to peek into your life through this Thank you list to God as well. I hadn’t remembered that your husband taught microbiology and other science courses. Neat.

    How great to hear about special times with your kids and grandkids, God’s protection on the road, the exciting entries into some of the wedding fairs, ways God is using your writing, etc.

    Thanks for popping by my site and hearing my updates as well. Yes, joys and poignant moments woven together there.

    Warmly,
    Jennifer Dougan
    http://www.jenniferdougan.com

    • Jennifer, so glad you enjoyed this peek into my life! It’s been so nice getting to know you through blogging. Count on my continued prayers through this emotion-filled season of your life. God bless!

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