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Are You Thankful?
By Florence Vining Thomen, East Canaan
Do you ever take time out from your daily round of routine activities to just pause for awhile to reflect—and relax? Try it, and take the time to ask yourself some timely and vital questions. This is designated as a time for giving thanks, so let us get down to the nitty-gritty. Let's be serious about it and take time to really analyze our existence. I think you will find many blessings that you normally just take for granted. But, please give God His due and really delve into your inner being—your spirit, let's say.
There, you will discover, are so many blessings that you cannot count them. Let me mention a few that you may find applicable to your own life, which I discovered to be some that I had overlooked. Notable is the thankfulness I owe God for my wonderful parents. Yes, they are long gone from this world, but just think what I have been endowed with. They gave me life; that alone is surely the greatest blessing one can list. In any case, they implanted in me all that I am today. For that, I am eternally grateful.
They taught me tolerance, patience, kindness, and the need to always think of the other fellow. They used to tease me about my habit of always championing the underdog. As I grow older, and hopefully wiser, I tend to love everyone. We are all children of God—and He is the God of Love. I have heard it said that Love is all there is, and I'm beginning to see the truth in that saying.
Please forgive me if this all sounds like bragging. But I am learning to analyze myself lately and I have discovered some characteristics that I am fortunate to be blessed with—and, I might add, very grateful to my Creator for. May I mention another thing that constantly amazes me? So many people with whom I associate have come to love me, and I don't know why. Truly, it amazes me. I have nothing to offer except love. But, I digress!
Do you enjoy the wonderful area in which you live? New England is so endowed with Nature's blessings! The constant variety of weather as the seasons change; the majestic array of autumn splendors, not only among all our deciduous trees, but even the woodbine as it entwines itself in its scarlet splendor up a tree trunk. The common sumac is one of the most ornate as October progresses. Isn't all of that splendor worth thanks to God?
Do we ever give thanks just for the privilege of inhaling the exhilarating fresh air around us? Do we take our good health for granted? When we receive an answer to any prayer, do we say, "Thank you, Lord"?
I have just given you a start as to the types of blessings that we seldom think about. Do allow this time to be one of concentrated analysis with respect to some of the very special but seldom considered reasons for thankfulness in our wonderful lives. And tell God, too, how you appreciate His love and bounteous care. He will bless your life, I'm sure. As I already stated, He is the God of Love. Remember that, and remember that Love is all there is!
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