Having An  Attitude of Gratitude This Thanksgiving

6 Ways to Make Your Thanksgiving Positive and Powerful

by Debra S. Bowman  –   awesomegrandmothers.org

How do you have a thankful heart this thanksgiving when you have a broken heart? Perhaps this year you’ve lost a spouse, a child, your job, your health, your parents or a dream? Sometimes you have to make the best of a bad situation and that means putting one foot in front of the other and keep going. Even if you don’t feel like it, you keep pressing on because somewhere, sometime ahead in the journey there is new joy! There is hope. You can make it. There are things you can do to get back the joy. And, it starts with taking a time out to look at what you are thankful for. It’s all about focus.

I just realized I have experienced all of the losses I listed above sometime in my life and a few of them just this year, but God sustained me through every situation. When I became a widow at age thirty-two, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper that I could make it, “underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27). Even when I felt like I was falling and my world was coming apart, God held me in the palm of His hand. When I lost my son in an auto accident God reassured me Zachary was in glory with Him. Even though losing him was hard, now we are so thankful to have Anthony in our home. He is our world and our joy.

It was a huge setback when I was struck with Multiple Sclerosis, but I was covered with much prayer and we chose to be thankful even in the trial and now I am fully recovered. Wow, I am blessed!

You can look for many ways to have an attitude of gratitude this thanksgiving which will release new joy and that will help mend a broken heart.

Here are six ways to make your thanksgiving season a powerful time of recuperation  and healing.

1) Help Others 

Feed the hungry, volunteer in a nursing home, give someone a ride to the doctor, or help someone after they are devastated by a tornado. There are many lonely, needy people in this world. Even helping others in small ways will bring big results. Pick up on your grandkids laughter. Laugh along and you will come along.

2) Show Appreciation 

Say thank you to others for whatever they have done for you. Big or small. It’s round robin. Both will feel satisfaction.

3) Make Connections

Connections are powerful. Like plugging in an electric cord. Plug into friends and
family. You will feel a surge of energy and joy. Naomi in the book of Ruth returned not just to her people, after her heart was broken, but returned to the land of her God. This resulted  in restoration and healing.

4) Exercise 

Exercise in whatever way you can. Even a short walk will release endorphins that make you feel better, physically and emotionally. These little endorphins will tickle your happy bone and release new energy.

5) Smile

Pull those face muscles wide, even if you don’t feel like it. Feeling often follows action.  Smiling will be followed with real joy. The first time it may be forced, but keep it up! Smile all day, all week and pretty soon the emotion of joy will tag along. Also, many others will smile in return.

6) Say Thank You to God

Giving thanks proceeds victory. (Read 2 Chronicles 20:17 to 23) The Lord will honor praise, and deliverance will come, and it all begins by breaking out of the bondage of depression and ungratefulness with a choice to give thanks. Take a 3×5 card and make a list of things you are thankful for. Put it in your pocket, carry it around and when the blues or negativity tries to take over, take out the card, say the list out loud and your card will become a shield against depression. Say “I am happy and blessed” and your word will give you the strength and courage to press through to real joy!

We have so many blessings and reasons to be grateful and you can use an attitude of gratitude to overpower the blues and make this season a joyful one for you and your family.

As my Tennessee cousins would say,  “Ya’ll have a  happy Thanksgiving.”