 | Every autumn, I am so thankful for the beautiful colors of the leaves on the trees and the fallen leaves on the grass in my yard. I'm even more thankful that I have a small yard. While it's large enough so I can see the beauty of autumn, it's also small enough so raking the leaves will be fun, rather than tiresome. |
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 Whether my choices for political candidates have won or not, I'm still so thankful to be living in a democracy and to be able to vote. Yes, I really do want people with different views from mine to also vote, so we can debate different ideas and have a variety of choices to consider.
 I am so thankful for my many author activities. Even before the March 2016 release date of my third novel, Roger Williams in an Elevator, I had begun writing a fourth novel. I love seeing how my own ideas actually change as I put them on paper in different settings with a variety of characters and actions. At my many author events, I've had so much fun networking with people from many different fields. Being an author has been a blessing in so many unbelievable ways!
 To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
I praise you, Lord, for loving me for many years in wondrous ways. In sunny joy, my eyes can see with all your guidance helping me. I thank you, Lord, for being you. Please bless yourself and others too. Amen
I am so thankful for my pets. Whether they are playing with Christmas trees or massaging my feet, they brighten my life with their energy, love, and purrs.
 I'm so thankful for objects that help me to multi-task in my everyday life: file cabinets, cupboards, notebooks, folders, directories, cell phones, computer files . . . . I'm also thankful for having so many items that need to be organized into various settings.
While writing, I'm thankful for having a multitude of creative ideas that need to be organized. Outlining, listing, and drawings are some of my favorite organizational techniques. The creativity of my writing and other activities is enhanced with logical organizers.  Until recently, whenever I was stuck in traffic, I would get upset. Then one day, I was actually very thankful to be within the traffic, rather than within the car accident that had caused the traffic.
Now, whenever I'm stuck in traffic, I try to do more positive things. I remind myself about the niceness of having a car. I also tell myself to just relax. Whether I want to or not, relaxation can include listening in my car to nice music for a longer time than I had initially expected. Having a little bit of extra relaxation time is a reason to be thankful, rather than a reason to be upset.  On August 4, 2015 severe wind/thunderstorms damaged multiple trees, cars, houses, and other objects in Rhode Island. I've been calling these storms "mini-tornadoes." Thankfully, I only lost my power for about six hours on that date. I have also been very thankful that no branches from area trees did damage to my house or my car. One nearby tree did lose several of its branches, including one large one that looked like it was just hacked out of its center. This giant branch and some smaller ones fell into my backyard. A few of my tomato plants were destroyed, but most of my garden was thankfully okay.
Now, this same tree actually looks really beautiful in an interesting way with the leaves near the cut-out area turning colors more quickly while most of the other leaves are still primarily green. I am so thankful that such a positive image has emerged after the numerous problems caused by those mini-tornadoes. Thanksgiving is a time when many people, including myself, are thankful to God for their many blessings. Just being alive and being able to say "thank you" to my Lord and to the many wonderful people in our world is a blessing all by itself.
T he h eavenly A lmighty's n oisy k indness s trengthens g rateful I mpactful v oices I nto n ew g ratitudes I'm not the only one who is thankful for the many people and blessings in my life. A Huffington Post Webpage published on November 3, 2015, "Being Thankful" (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/being-thankful/), shows the thankfulness of a large variety of people.
Thanksgiving Message Despite the many problems encountered by the Pilgrims, they were still thankful to God for the many blessings in their lives. This thankfulness is described in Jen Cowart's article about an interfaith "Thanksgiving Message 'Cultivating Gratitude.'" According to Jen Cowart, in November 2013, the Cranston Interfaith Clergy Association and members of their congregations heard a guest speaker from Jerusalem: Rabbi Michael Klein-Katz. In addition to talking about the Pilgrims, Klein-Katz also spoke about a Harvard Medical School study of gratitude. Six methods of "living a grateful life" were mentioned: "Writing thank you notes to others, thanking others mentally by thinking of them, keeping a personal gratitude journal, counting one's blessings, praying and meditating." More information about Thanksgiving and gratitude is available in Jen Cowart's article "Thanksgiving Message 'Cultivating Gratitude,'" which appeared in the Cranston Herald, cranstononline.com, on November 27, 2013. This article is still online at: http://cranstononline.com/stories/Cultivating-gratitude,87769?search_filter=thankful+and+god&content_&town_id=3&sub_ Thanksgiving Poem: A May Flower in November 1620 by Dr. Karen Petit The flowers of May were blooming away in summer's great warmth and fall's wintry air. A petal broke off, went sailing astray, into the wind, with a Separatist’s prayer. It paused in the sky with the blue turning gray; then continued its trip 'til wooden beams were near. When one of them cracked, the petal did say: “I fear for my life! This storm’s so unfair!" "But I know, in this world, many are things unfixed." "'cause I trust in my Lord, to Him I’ll pray.” With prayers and repairs, the beam was soon fixed. “I thank thee, Lord, for strengthening my 'May.'” The voyage moved on; many problems eclipsed. In November within a New World’s bay, the flower became Mayflower in-mixed. Thanksgiving Bible Verses
Copyright © Karen Petit 2014-2018. All Rights Reserved.
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AuthorDr. Karen Petit is the author of Banking on Dreams, Mayflower Dreams, Roger Williams in an Elevator, Unhidden Pilgrims, Amazing Holiday Paws, and Holidays Amaze. She is thankful to God for the many wonderful people and positive aspects of her life. |
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