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The Blessing of Thanksgiving

                 I cannot remember a time when I have looked forward to Thanksgiving weekend as much as I am this year.  The long weekend will be nice.  Having family around will be great!  But the big reason I am looking forward to Thanksgiving is because I need it.
                Compared to what other people are going through, my life is not that difficult, but lately it has felt very busy and chaotic.  There is always something to think about, worry about, plan for or figure out.  I have been living in crisis mode just waiting for the next thing to go wrong.
                I need Thanksgiving weekend, not for the break, but for the reminder.   I need to remember that my thankful list is hundreds of times longer than my problems list.  I have been blessed beyond imagination. 
                James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights”.  Often, I think that I am in charge and that if anything good is going to happen, then I need to make it happen.  That is not true!  Repeatedly, the word tells me that God is in charge and that he is the one who blesses me.  If I could remember that, I would live differently.
                I need this weekend so that I can slow down and think about what I have instead of what I do not have.  I need this weekend so that I see my blessings, not just my problems.  I need this weekend so that I can tell people how much they mean to me.  I need this weekend so that I can focus on joy.
                I am looking forward to Thanksgiving weekend, but also to a weekend of thanksgiving. 
                I hope you find that blessing too.
                “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

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