the Thanksgiving week challenge

This idea, and much of the post, isn't original. By permission, it's borrowed from another blogger I follow, who challenged himself and his readers to re-set their minds to be thankful. I tend to be a grumbler and can definitely use this challenge!

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of my favorites ... food, parades, family, friends. But originally, it was meant to be a day to pause and give authentic thanks to God. Unfortunately for many, including myself, thanksgiving is more of a one-day holiday than a way of life. I don't know about you, but I've been blessed beyond comprehension, and even in the unwelcome moments of life, I have so much for which to be thankful.

What would it look like if I ONLY spoke words of gratitude the entire week of Thanksgiving?

If I went so far as to look at this dirty and cluttered house, a task I'd rather ignore, and instead think, “God, thank you for my home. Give me joy in cleaning it!”

When my grown children call late at night, “God, thank you that they care enough to call at all!”

I even get snarky when my husband gets in "my" kitchen space. Come on! I need to be thankful he's only trying to help.

How about if every time this week I see a person, I tell them why I am thankful they are in my life.

So, starting this Monday morning and going through this Sunday evening, I'm challenging myself to live an entire week full of thanksgiving.

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:4

Anytime I'm tempted to think/say/do something negative (filthy, foolish, crude or otherwise unthankful), I will instead choose, in that very moment, to give thanks to God for His blessings in my life.

If you'd like to join me, please leave a comment saying so AND repost this (in your own words, if you'd like...no need to link me) on your blog or facebook and challenge your friends to do the same. Even if you're not reading this until after Monday morning, it's never too late to take up a good challenge. And, keep in mind that nobody who takes this challenge is going to make it an entire week without missing the mark ... so when that happens, let's just pick ourselves back up and start again!

credit to: http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/


(And yeah, I'm thankful to GOD for abundant blessings, not the Indians, Pilgrims, pumpkins, corn or wild turkeys. If you disagree ... that's up to you. But this is my blog, so I'm not worried about political correctness.)