Weekly Thankful List

By: Jenn Grandlienard

November: when fall is in full effect, the leaves are almost all off the trees, and thankfulness is at an all-time high. I don’t know about you, but fall is my most favorite season. Sweatshirts, crisp mornings and the anticipation of the holidays. As much as I love Christmas, Thanksgiving has always held a really special place in my heart.

When I was growing up, we always had Thanksgiving at my grandparents’ house. The week leading up to Thanksgiving, my cousins, my brother and I would all gather around my Mom-mom’s kitchen table to break the bread used in her famous sausage stuffing. We’d take turns saying what we were thankful for, and these times are still some of my fondest of memories.

Thankfulness in the fall has become a little cliché, but I say let’s celebrate gratefulness anyway. Leading up to Thanksgiving, let’s be intentional about gratitude. No matter who we are, what our life looks like, there are ALWAYS things to be thankful for.  

Here’s my example of a weekly list of thankfulness, and I invite you to join in the celebration of gratitude with me!

Monday: I’m thankful for a new start. No matter what happened last week, good or bad, this week is a clean slate.

Tuesday: I’m thankful for my family. Not only my husband and my two sons, but my extended family around the country.

Wednesday: I’m thankful for work. I’m thankful I can use my skills and abilities to positively impact those around me.

Thursday: I’m thankful for the roof over my head and the food on my table. I know there are places around the world (including this country) where people don’t always have food to eat, so even though I often take this for granted, it is something to be grateful for each and every day 

Friday: I’m thankful for my friends. The community of friends who have become family in my little town of Xenia, as well as the friends who live farther away, but who I can keep up with through social media, texting and phone calls. 

Saturday: I’m thankful for a healthy body. I’m thankful for the ability to work out my muscles, my heart and lungs to remain healthy and strong for (hopefully) years to come. In this avenue, I’m especially thankful for the YMCA, creating a safe and clean place to come and workout in an encouraging environment.

Sunday: I’m thankful for rest. I’m thankful for a church I can go to each week to learn about grace, truth and the love of Jesus. I’m thankful for slow Sunday afternoons with my family, watching Football, reading books and taking naps!

Ok, your turn. If you were going to create a week-long thankful list, what would be on it?