Thankfulness should be a continual state. “Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18 HCSB).” Even when circumstances are less than ideal, thanking God for them puts us in the exact right position, where we are able to walk with God and are accessible to all the blessings He wants to give us.

As we approach our national festival of Thanksgiving, it’s customary to give thanks for all the good things that have happened since last year. Here is the top of my list:

• My husband is still with me. In March 2020 Greg had a surgery that didn’t go well. He survived, though life is a daily struggle for him. I thank God for each day that we are together.
• Even though Covid-19 is still with us, infections are down, due to vaccination.
• My daughter is getting married next month. (She was supposed to have a wedding last fall, but, you know, Covid.)
• My son, whose job disappeared when the pandemic started, has a new job.
• We’ve reconnected with Greg’s brother and his wife.
• We have lots of people to send Christmas cards to.
• We have a great team of health professionals taking care of us.
• I enjoyed swimming this past summer.
• I’m having fun making quilts.
• We’ve been able to go to church a few times when Greg’s strength has allowed for it.

A few years ago I started a gratitude journal after reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. A lot of my entries are repetitive—thanks for tasks being completed, lost items found, good news from our children. Nevertheless, I think gratitude journaling is a productive discipline. There’s so much disturbing news in our world—shootings, cars running down parade-watchers, political discord, extreme weather, people trampled to death at concerts—that it’s easy to become cynical and depressed. Let’s balance the bad by celebrating the good things in our lives.

Now it’s your turn. Think of three things you’re thankful for, and share them in the comments below. Or if you’ve posted about them in your social media or blog, shoot us a link so we can rejoice with you.