| Can you believe that the holiday season is here | | | | through the eyes of others. Some days, when feeling |
| already? We can say all together...Where Did The | | | | my lows coming, I have now had to learn to consider |
| Time Go?! Of course this month, we will take time to | | | | more those who are around me. Giving a lot of |
| come together to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The | | | | thought about the upcoming season, there are two or |
| turkey, parades, family dinners and football are the | | | | three different scenarios that I pictured for myself and |
| traditions of the day. Most families have the family | | | | my family this year. Some of them were based upon |
| member that will come with garments laced with | | | | the promises of others that I trusted. I really did not see |
| turkey buttons, and the uncle that has quarters for | | | | this one coming, the entire different picture! This cannot |
| every child in the house. For a day or two, it seems | | | | be a stumbling block for me. It is more of an |
| that everything is great at Grandma's house. What | | | | opportunity to share with someone the words of life, |
| about the person that stands patiently for the carving | | | | hope and look beyond myself to find out what I want |
| of the turkey that is saying to themselves or feeling | | | | to give that my mind cannot dictate.....just my heart. |
| that they have nothing to be thankful for? | | | | There are others around me that are living a life that |
| There is so much going on right now in everyone's | | | | they cannot shake off. I have already come from |
| lives no matter where or who you are. The politics, | | | | severe poverty, addictions and severe depression. Is |
| economy, state of the nation and of the world affects | | | | there someone out there who needs to know that |
| everyone. Some are just affected by watching it on | | | | their current situation does not dictate there future |
| the news everyday. In our personal lives, we face | | | | status? ABSOLTULEY! That is who I need to find, that |
| truths everyday of hurt, disappoint, lies and deceit. Our | | | | is who I need to encourage, and that is who needs to |
| life and expectations of it have and will continue to be | | | | feel the state of Thankfulness again in their lives. Many |
| compromised because no one really knows what the | | | | people will not experience happiness during this season |
| future holds. Lately I have had to condition my heart to | | | | unless you bring it to them. So whether it is to deliver a |
| a state of Thankfulness that I pray helps you to | | | | blanket or two to your local shelter, invite a family with |
| consider yourself. | | | | young children to your home or local community center |
| The commercialism of the holidays targets family, | | | | for a family style dinner that you create. It may be to |
| happiness, joy and spending. No one has a commercial | | | | gather your family together and go to your local soup |
| that shows someone who thought they where getting | | | | kitchen and volunteer to serve during this season. |
| the engagement ring or thought their son or daughter | | | | Take the risk this year to care for someone else |
| was coming home from the service for a holiday | | | | during this season and everyday. It will give you the |
| leave. What about the commercial that shows children | | | | peace that you need that your life will be better |
| WITHOUT coats, hats and gloves? There is not an ad | | | | because of it. The principles of reaping and sowing is |
| to speak to those who will not sit around a holiday | | | | real in our lives daily. I choose to reap a harvest of |
| table but in a shelter all alone or with those who have | | | | love, family, peace and joy. I am able to do that |
| now become their family because of a common bond, | | | | walking everyday with the hope of a better future.....a |
| homelessness. | | | | state of thankfulness. |
| A state of Thankfulness has allowed me to see life | | | | |