Thankfully living

As I wrap up my month of daily grateful thinking, I took a moment to seriously reflect on my daily thinking - Am I living a thankful life? 

There are so many obstacles in life, big ones and small ones. Obstacles are different for all of us and they can be life threatening or life changing. During the day we run into a million little obstacles that can make us stumble and create a real pain in our day. I often think it's human nature to focus on the rain during the day versus trying to find the rainbow.

One night as I prayed over dinner, I asked God to bless our food and thanked Him for giving me some pretty amazing kids. My monkey stopped me and said "Thank you, Mommy!" The biggest smile was spread across his face and he seemed totally excited that I thank God for him and his brother. Now, let me be clear - I do this often but at that moment he seemed to have heard me more clearly than before.  I couldn't get that sweet thanks and smile out of my head for days. 

Am I doing the same with my Heavenly Father? Am I thanking Him clearly and enthusiastically for the wonderful gifts He gives me? Am I communicating with Him how thankful I am for my life, all of it? Does He truly understand my appreciation of his grace and blessings? 

Do my family and friends know how completely in love I am with them? I sometimes feel like days, weeks, months and even years go by and I haven't communicated the things I want with them because of schedules or distance. I want them to never doubt that their simple presence blesses me.

Today, on the last day of November, I want to commit to living a more thankful life. I want to be more purposeful in loving, appreciating and recognizing the people who surround me.

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.