Great Things and Giving Thanks

Autumn is such a nostalgic time. I find myself looking back at God’s past faithfulnesses more this time of year than perhaps any other. (Lanier, 2007)

It is the golden days and cool nights that speak of endings — and of new beginnings yet to be seen — that make me stop and look back as I look forward. It is in looking back that I find scattered throughout my year such overwhelming evidences of God’s goodness, and the only thing I can do is to try to thank Him for the many good gifts that He has once again so faithfully poured out. I am always inspired, once again, to infuse into my daily life even more gratitude than ever before.  I look forward to the year ahead with anticipation of living more fully as I live more thankfully. I want to live “thankful” all year long. Not just during the good times, but during the times when “blessings come through raindrops”.

 Gratitude is really all about attitude. The attitude of my heart. (Jaclynn, participating in this year’s GreaThings)

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.  (John Fitzgerald Kennedy)

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.  (W.J. Cameron)

Participating in GreaThings again this year really encouraged me as I saw the ways that others have taken Thanksgiving and turned it into a life-changing action word. I’ve been inspired by the hearts that have humbly shared what they are learning through their struggles and difficulties. I am thankful that together, we are learning: learning what gratitude is and what gratitude isn’t.

In naming each blessing, I can savor it more thoroughly.  In thanking Him for the GreaThings, I remember from Whom they come.  Through slowing down to practicing gratitude, I can keep a more heavenly perspective on life. (Gretchen, in GreaThings: Gratitude)

“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past.” (quote originally shared by Racula as a part of GreaThings this year)

This is why we count. This is why we choose to see sunshine behind the darkest clouds. This is why, over and over and over again, we keep reminding each other of the Great Things He has done for us. We are choosing to remember so we cannot forget how big our God is, and how much we have to be thankful for. Today and every single day of the year.

When I think about life and all my struggles, failures, and things to do I would rather not smile, but slip away instead to a world of self pity. I can’t though because God never has failed yet to give me so many reasons to just smile. Of which I could not be more grateful for. (Bethanne, writing about some of her GreaThings this year.)

As yet another year of GreaThings comes to a close, and we celebrate a day of giving thanks to God for all that He has done for us, we want to take time to say thank you to each one of you who have shared with us this year and invite you to be a part of counting our little blessings today.

Please leave a comment on this post, telling us some of the Great Things of your year, and the ways that you are learning to live Gratitude in your daily life. You can also join us on Twitter as we tweet some our blessings; be sure to use the #GreaThings tag so that we can find you and thank God together for His faithfulness this year.