Thanksgiving Brings Out the Thankfulness in All of Us

Are you on Facebook and Social Media? If so, then you are aware of the thirty days of thanks. If you're not, let me explain. The more popular social media becomes, the more opportunities to share with others. One of these ways is the "Thirty Days of Thanks" during the month of November. What does this mean? 

Simply, you share (post) one thing you are thankful for each day and encourage your friends and family to do the same thing. If you miss a day, you just share two the next day. I've participated the past couple years and will probably join the gratefulness parade this week yet as I thought about it last night, after reading a dozen or so "days of thanks", on my friend's post...I asked myself an important question...why do so many wait until November to be thankful?

I don't think there is one right answer to this question because we are all unique, and fearfully and wonderfully made by God. 

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

Keeping this in mind, doesn't it make sense to give thanks every day? I think so. I'm excited to enter the season of Thanksgiving and transition into Christmas tidings because even those that tend to focus on the negatives in their lives, set aside this tendency and zone in on the hope, joy, and good around them. This is exciting stuff. We need to share at least one thing we are thankful for each day, this helps keep a positive perspective on life and easier to maintain a smile on your face. 

Would it be too lofty a goal to share one thing we are thankful for on social media every day? Maybe, but maybe not. This reminds me of when I started to journal differently during my quiet time. Our pastor's wife at the time shared how she set up her journal and it spoke to me so much, I took an old notebook and attempted this format. A decade later, I still journal this way. Let me share with you...

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Rather than have everything together, the front and back of this journal have different purposes. My free writing journal is a separate from this and varies but for the initial part of my quiet time, it starts like this.


In the front, the pages are divided into two columns. On the left I lift praises to God. These are things only God could do in my life.


"I will shout for joy
    as I sing Your praises;
    my soul will celebrate because You have rescued me."

Psalm 71:23 Voice

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The column to the right is for the things I'm thankful for. These are things God is doing in my life through family, friends, strangers, neighbors, at work, the grocery store, and in my life. 

Basically, these are the things I'm thankful for, God is at the root of all that happens in our life yet a lot of the things in my thankful column reflect the people and situations God used to bless me. 

So the front of my book has praises and thanks side by side working towards the middle. In the back of the book, after lifting praise and thanks, I write my prayer requests. 

"Pray, and keep praying. Be alert and thankful when you pray."
Colossians 4:2 Voice

So as you share and/or read everyone's daily posts of thanks, start sharing your own every day, not just in the month of November. I know many of us do this throughout the year in writing, verbally, and in prayer yet I wonder...what if...

What if we had "365 Days of Thanks" on social media, how might this change the heart of those reading our posts? You never know when your one shout of thanksgiving might encourage someone ready to give up or in need of a different perspective. Something to think about and consider this month.

I will praise the Eternal in every moment through every situation.
    Whenever I speak, my words will always praise Him.
Everything within me wants to pay tribute to Him.
    Whenever the poor and humble hear of His greatness, they will celebrate too!
Come and lift up the Eternal with me;
    let’s praise His name together!
When I needed the Lord, I looked for Him;
    I called out to Him, and He heard me and responded.
He came and rescued me from everything that made me so afraid.

Psalm 34:1-4; 

Leave a comment below of ONE thing/person you are thankful for and why...you might be the encouragement another reader needs today. Thank you in advance, I'm thankful for all of you each day!