It's officially the best month of the year. Especially here in Florida. Humidity begins to drop dramatically, and with that comes hair that behaves itself throughout the day. The temperature is somewhere between 70 and 80 throughout the day. Basically all around perfect weather for doing any sort of outdoor activity. For those of us who work outside, it's much appreciated. Maybe we don't get the extreme change in color of the leaves, but there definitely are extra crunchy leaves to step on. I will go out of my way to do this while running. I also find that people are all around friendlier everywhere you go. Cashiers, drivers, random strangers. People are all asking me how I am doing and smiling. Certain smells begin to fill there air. Cinnamon, peppermint, goodies baking. Pumpkin flavored everything starts to make an appearance. Ice cream, lattes, pie, cream cheese. How could you not love November! There is so much to be thankful for.
This is the month to give thanks anyway isn't it. Thanksgiving here in America is a pretty big deal. A time for families to get together when they've been apart all year. But the biggest tradition, especially with my family, is to write out a list of things that you are thankful for. Things that God has done for you in the past year. Simple things like a roof over your head, food to eat, family, and friends. It's always interesting to take out a list that you wrote a few years ago and see what things you were thankful for then, and how different your focus' are now in comparison. We focus a lot on being "Thankful" this month, but what about the rest of the year? Can we be thankful then to?
I think many of us genuinely are thankful the rest of the year, it just isn't something we openly express like it is in November. I think it should be a continuing theme all year. What can we do to change this? I've been thinking that personally I am going to start writing out a thankful list every month. It probably won't be long, maybe one for every day, so 30 or 31 a month. But enough to shift my focus from discontentment to thankfulness. I want thankfulness to be a continuing attitude in my life. Thankfulness is the theme of November, but this month will be a start for me to have an attitude of complete thankfulness the rest of the year. Will you join me?
before the gods I sing your praise;
I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love
and all your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
On the day I called, you answered me;
my stength of soul you increased.
All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,
for great is the glory of the LORD.
For though the LORD is high,
he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands."
-Psalm 138
