Un-Thankful

Yes, I am very thankful for lots of things in my life. But I also recognize that I forget to be thankful a lot more often than I remember (or am reminded) to be. I take a lot of things for granted. We all do. And even when we do try to make a list of the things we are thankful for that we probably do take for granted, I don't think we sit back and reflect on exactly what it means for us to have those things in our life or to be thankful for them.

I have intentionally avoided all the exercises on facebook and whatnot about listing something you are thankful for every day in November (or whatever it may be). It's not that I'm not thankful for things, because I am. But I think that exercise is lacking something really important. Because anyone can come up with a list of things they are thankful for. You start with the "elementary school answers" - family, friends, a home, pets, health, safety, religious/spiritual things, experiences. Then you usually move on to modern conveniences or good things that happen each day. But do you ever stop and think about WHY you are thankful for these things? Do you ever consider what it means for you to have these things and what thankfulness looks like in your life. Even more importantly, do you admit that you often take these things for granted and make a concerted effort to not take them for granted but to be intentionally more thankful in your lifestyle, rather than for just a few extra weeks?

I agree that a month of giving thanks is better than a single day, but what about a lifetime? Wouldn't that be the best thing possible?

Today my challenge to you is not to share things you are thankful for, but to really reflect on (and perhaps share) the things that you take for granted in your life. Think about why that is, what it means to have them in your life, and what thankfulness looks like. Then think about what you are going to do in the coming year to be more thankful, not just for these things you take for granted (although that's a great place to start!) but in all the areas of your life!