THANKSGIVING: GRATITUDE IS AN ATTITUDE

• In my childhood home and in my married life, Thanksgiving has been formalized around a big dinner. It was at gathering for dinner that Thanksgiving came its sharpest focus.
  
  
• At Thanksgiving dinner, Mom had always prepared a short dinner-table ceremony in which all could participate. Once she prepared slips of paper with Bible verses of thanks from the psalms. Each of us found our slip of paper under our plate and read it aloud in turn. Dad summed it all up in a prayer of thanks.
• It wasn't always easy to be thankful! After a death in the family. During food shortages. In times of illness. In the company of a one afflicted by disabling disease.
• In those difficult times I learned that after dark days, the sun would always slant into my space once again. After many cloud-sodden nights, the moon would glow again.
  
  
   
• Gratitude is an attitude based not only on memories of good times past focused out ahead on personal, family and human values that are sure to come.
• Looking forward to a brighter day isn't foolishness; it's necessary for peaceful well being and  possible by faith.
• Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his mercy endures for ever. Psalm 107. Gratitude is an attitude.