You Are One of My Thankfuls: Top Ten People I Am Thankful For

Thankful by Nakeva (Photo credit: Nakeva)

My friend Ellen's grand-daughter, Carleigh, has done it again.  I've written about her before and on Thanksgiving 2011, she again proved how a three year old can permanently write her name on her grandmother's heart.  When asked what she was thankful for, she responded without hesitation, "YOU!" meaning of course my friend and her Gigi, Ellen.  Don't you know Gigi was pretty excited to hear that response?  Wouldn't you be excited to to hear who is thankful for you?

With that in mind and in the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, I decided to write my list of the top ten people in my life that I am thankful for.  Here it goes:

10.  Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Andy Stanley, Kent Julian and other inspirational figures who have devoted their lives to making a difference in a positive way and who have truly made a difference in mine.

 9.  My co-workers at Sixes Elementary.  I am blessed to work in a supportive caring school where we all consider each other family.  We support each other in hard times and celebrate with each other in happy times.

8.  My church family at Kennesaw United Methodist Church.  I have belonged to the same chuch for over 24 years and in that length of time I have made a a lot of friends.  These are all people who celebrate with me in good times and who wrap their arms around me in the bad times.  I am eternally thankful.

7.  My Thursday 'Love Ya Like A Sista' group.  We get together to share in a Bible study once a week, we vacation together, we socialize together, we support each other.  We love each other like sisters.

6. My close girlfriends, Valerie, Barbara and Ellen who know me so well and love me anyway.  You are the best.

5.  My grandfather. He was the first writer that I knew. I am so grateful that he recognized my talent and encouraged me to develop it.

4. My sister and brothers. There is a special bond between siblings and I will always cherish this.

3. My Mom and Dad.  The older I get, the more I appreciate the support, the encouragement, the sacrifices, the constructive criticism and the love that you shared to make me who I am today.

2.  My daughters and my son-in-love.  It's amazing the depth of love a parent can have for a child.  I am so honored and privileged to be a part of their lives.

1.  My God who loved me before I even knew Him and who sought me out and sent His son to reconcile and seal that relationship.  

What about you?  What if during this season of thanks, you recognized those to whom  you are most grateful for in your life?  Who would that be?

This is a reposting of the Thanksgiving post of 2011.  If you like it would you share it with your friends on facebook and twitter? 

Want to discover your Passion and Purpose in Life?  Consider attending the Called Woman Conference in March 2013.   

The Top Ten People I Am Grateful For

Image by ater_unda via FlickrMy friend Ellen's grand-daughter, Carleigh, has done it again.  I've written about her before and on Thanksgiving, she again proved how a three year old can permanently write her name on her grandmother's heart.  When asked what she was thankful for, she responded without hesitation, "YOU!" meaning of course my friend and her Gigi, Ellen.  Don't you know Gigi was pretty excited to hear that response?  Wouldn't you be excited to to hear who is thankful for you?

With that in mind and in the spirit of the Thanksgiving season, I decided to write my list of the top ten people in my life that I am thankful for.  Here it goes:

10.  Dave Ramsey, Dan Miller, Andy Stanley, Kent Julian and other public figures who have devoted their lives to making a difference in a positive way and who have truly made a difference in mine.
 9.  My co-workers at Sixes Elementary.  I am blessed to work in a supportive caring school where we all consider each other family.  We support each other in hard times and celebrate with each other in happy times.
8.  My church family at Kennesaw United Methodist Church.  I have belonged to the same chuch for over 24 years and in that length of time I have made a a lot of friends.  These are all people who celebrate with me in good times and who wrap their arms around me in the bad times.  I am eternally thankful.
7.  My Thursday 'Love Ya Like A Sista' group.  We get together to share in a Bible study once a week, we vacation together, we socialize together, we support each other.  We love each other like sisters.
6. My close girlfriends, Valerie, Barbara and Ellen who know me so well and love me anyway.  You are the best.
5.  My grandfather. He was the first writer that I knew. I am so grateful that he recognized my talent and encouraged me to develop it.
4. My sister and brothers. There is a special bond between siblings and I will always cherish this.
3. My Mom and Dad.  The older I get, the more I appreciate the support, the encouragement, the sacrifices, the constructive criticism and the love that you shared to make me who I am today.
2.  My daughters and my son-in-love.  It's amazing the depth of love a parent can have for a child.  I am so honored and privileged to be a part of their lives.
1.  My God who loved me before I even knew Him and who sought me out.

What about you?  What if during this season of thanks, you recognized those to whom  you are most grateful for in your life?  Who would that be?

What Are You Grateful For And How Do You Show It?

Image by gamene via Flickr

Thanksgiving is next week and there are turkeys and pumpkins galore decorating the walls of my school.  Many classes are busy having the children list the things they are thankful for and I was interested to note as I walked by one kindergarten class, that there was frequent mention of Mom and Dad, closely followed by God and Jesus.  This is a public school mind you, but it doesn't keep the children from talking about their faith.  Then, I was talking with a fifth grade teacher who told me about a student in her classroom. "He is such a wonderful and polite boy," she said. "EVERY day when he leaves my class he says, 'Thank you for teaching me today.'" This got me to thinking about what we could all learn from this fifth grader and his attitude of gratitude.

What if we didn't wait for Thanksgiving to roll around to list our blessings? What if we all made sure to notice the people in our lives and thanked them for their contributions, EVERYDAY? What if EVERYDAY we made sure to notice the many blessings in our lives and thanked God for the abundant life we have?  I think this is a life changing concept. Firstly, it encourages those around us. Think how encouraged this teacher is with the simple action of this student expressing his appreciation. I could tell from our conversation that this lifts her spirits each day. Secondly, this positive attitude on the part of the student must encourage him to excel in his studies and reach for his goals. An attitude of gratitude not only empowers those that we thank, but it also changes us. When we are grateful and express that, it changes our focus. We develop a positive attitude. We are strengthened and motivated. We are encouraged.

The idea of keeping a gratitude journal is very popular lately.  Here's a twist on that idea.  Pick someone you care about and secretly keep a daily journal about things about them that you are grateful for. At the end of a year, give them the journal.  The amazing thing about doing this is that it will not only encourage them, it will transform you and your relationship.  Don't you think this is what the author of I John 3:18 meant when he said, "Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them and show it by our actions. Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God's side." Each day as we develop an attitude of gratitude, we are bringing light to a dark world. We are encouraging and empowering not only others but ourselves in the process. Who would have thought a fifth grade boy could have been such an example to us all?