Tuesday, November 24, 2009

My note to GRATITUDE!


Gratitude is surely a precious virtue!


Dear Gratitude,

Thank You Gratitude for showing me how lucky I am to have a big down coat when I am complaining of ice cube hands.


Thank You Gratitude for showing me how spoiled I am to have a plate of full rich food as I get upset about poor service and a bland-flavored meal at the restaurant.


Thank You Gratitude for reminding me how warm all the layers of my bed are when I mutter about a bad night's sleep.

{my favorite Thanksgiving accent decor}




Thank You Gratitude for showing me that the loud aggravating sounds of three boys is better than the dark silence of loneliness.

Thank You Gratitude for reminding me what a luxury it is to have running water when I am mad because I run out of a hot water during a shower.

Thank You Gratitude for hushing my complaints and shame about my weight by showing me that I am capable of walking and running and have full mobility of my body.

{even my calendar reminds me}





Thank You Gratitude for quieting my grumblings over the alarm clock that threatens my sleep as you show me that I am here on this great earth, alive, and able to meet each morning, breathing life.

Thank You Gratitude for stopping the foolish words of mine that say
"I have nothing to wear"
by bringing to mind the barefoot photos of children far away.

{compliments of my sweet boys!}





Thank You Gratitude for showing me how insignificant petty annoyances are as I realize what a treasure it is to be in love with my best friend and have a forever companion.

Thank You Gratitude for showing me that the painful times I had a few years ago pales when reflecting on the pain people felt in past times of war and unrest.


{a Happy Day message to my family}






Thank You Gratitude for trying to abide in my heart every day!
My life is full of passion and energy because God has given me the tool of practicing gratitude.


Thank You Gratitude for showing me how valuable you are so I can show my precious boys how to use Gratitude in their lives, giving them an always positive outlook as they deny negative thoughts that threaten to rob their happiness.

{some more sprinkles of the holiday}





HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


Quotes to think about this Thanksgiving...

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.
-H.U. Westermayer


The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

-Eric Hoffer



You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.

-G.K. Chesterton

25 comments:

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Lisa, these are such wonderful thoughts, and I appreciate you sharing them with us.

In gratitude...

XO,

Sheila :-)

jaquelyn {mama thoughts} said...

Thanks for this reminder, Lisa. It becomes SO easy to forget when I have SO much to be grateful for!

{hugs!}
Jacky

caveman said...

That's the best post you have ever done. I can't think of a single thing that defines you, Lisa, better then gratitude. If the whole world had your ability and determination to view life in this way, God would not need to create a separate heaven for a perfect eternity.

Not only is your sense of gratitude what defines you, it is also what sets you apart. I've never met another person who, even during the worst of times, makes an intense & focused effort to give thanks. The bible teaches us that the most important quality's God's citizens can have is humility. Gratefulness is a fundamental part of true humility.

Thank you for being mine. No man has ever had a better wife.

Michelle said...

Great post!

What a great attitude. Great lessons we should all live by.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this beautiful post and for all of the kind, encouraging comments that you leave on my blog. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

pk @ Room Remix

Christianne @ Little Page Turners said...

Thank you for such a lovely post.. and for the kind comment you left. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Many Thanksgiving Blessings to you and your family….Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

Kelly Miller said...

The perfect sentiments for this time of year -- and all the other seasons/months, as well.

Barbara Jean said...

I love your gourd, and other decor.
So beautiful.

Happy Thanksgiving
barbara jean

Kathleen Grace said...

Amen Lisa! A perfect post for this season and ANY season! I believe that God is pleased by a grateful heart, and it makes us happier too! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family:>)

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

What a wonderful, beautiful, much needed message. Thank you for your post!!
I hope you and your family have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

Tracey said...

So well put! Thanks for a great, inspiring read! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

What a lovely post. So perfect as we celebrate how thankful we are tomorrow! Happy Thanksgiving!

~Sandy~ said...

Amazing post! Makes you really sit back and think. Hope you are able to enjoy your Thanksgiving despite being in the kitchen all day ;) Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

Sweetly Sweet said...

Love this post, there is just so much to be thankful for, thanks for reminding that the small things are true blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!

I think you will love the free Gratitude Tree Tags I posted in my blog, they are a freebie: Sweetly Sweet

Nancy said...

I'm grateful for good friends like you!

Jane said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

All I can say is "AMEN".

Your words of gratitude reflect my thoughts today. Even with all the annoyances and grievances we may have...even with cheerfulness and with pain...even with the precarious economy, job loss, and wars...even in companionship and in loneliness...we have so much for which to be thankful.
Thanks be to God for His many blessings.

In all things give thanks,
Jane (artfully graced)

Wendy said...

Amazing post. Thank you for your insight! Happy Thanksgiving to you!!

Miller Racing Family said...

What a great post.
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I am so blessed to have met you in blogland.
Have a great day!

Room to Inspire said...

Beautiful post - I hope you and your family had a great Thanksgiving!

Chelsea

laterg8r said...

beautiful sentiments :D

b. said...

this is beautiful. you are beautiful!

Dorey said...

I loved reading this post! There are so many things to be thankful for! =) Thanks Lisa!

Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com said...

Lisa this is just BEAUTIFUL!

Ranelle said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing all those thoughts. I needed the reminder.