It is so important to calm down, breathe, and relax in the midst of all our planning and preparing for the upcoming Thanksgiving festivities. If we don’t, we will drop at the wrong moment… and that would not be good at all!

So, today, I’m starting off with a prayer of thanks and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ for all He has done for me. I give my day to Him right away, and ask Him to clear my mind of all of my “To-Do” lists, anxieties, business, and instead help me focus on resting in Him. That “resting” is often very hard for us to do isn’t it?

I’m taking the opportunity today to head to worship and sing in my church choir. This is something that I love to do. There is nothing like starting the day off by singing praises to the Lord to make my heart fall in line and remember to be thankful. Today, I’m taking a small notepad with me that I will use to write down all of the things I am thankful for throughout the day. There are so many, and I don’t want to forget a single one because as the days of preparation for Thanksgiving wear on, sometimes it is easy for me to lose my focus and then… I get weary and lose sight of why I am doing everything I am doing. I don’t want that to happen. Trust me, it’s not pretty!

My family will attend a get-together after worship today also. I am looking forward to the time with other believers to be refreshed and to refresh others as well. I love it when we fellowship on Sundays because it keeps me from delving right back into work and prep as soon as I get home. It forces me to stay focused on Jesus and His people, rather than on my own desires. It is so easy—when I’m at home—to just get right back into “the groove” of all my normal daily activities rather than taking a rest from all of them.

While at the afternoon fellowship meal, I am taking along a note of thanks to one of the people in that group who has set a good Titus 2 example for me to follow. I don’t think she knows just how deeply her selflessness and kindness have affected my life and that of my family. She has “spurred me on to righteousness” more times than I can count, and since we are now in the season of remembering to give thanks, I find it a good time to let her know how much she means to me. She exudes gratitude in the midst of being confined to a wheelchair after a horrible accident a few years ago, yet I never hear one word of self-pity from her lips, only praise to God. She has challenged me to live beyond myself, and I am forever grateful for her friendship and example to fully rely on God.

I don’t know about you, but when I truly rest, refresh, and dwell on all that I have to thank Him for on Sundays, I find that I’m better able to handle life come Monday morning! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 states it clearly, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, for you.”

How do you focus on the Lord and His goodness to you during this busy time of year? I would really like to hear your suggestions… I need more reminding to slow down than some people, especially during the holiday season. My typical bent is to just go-go-GO… until I can’t go anymore. Do you ever struggle with this? How do you stay focused on what you have to be grateful for?