One of my favorite times of year comes with the brilliant color of the changing leaves, the quiet that settles in the air, the crispness of the air, and the scents of autumn that stir in my kitchen. It seems there is a time of reflective thankfulness that comes with the initial falling of the leaves. Moments seem to slow a bit as the air grows crisp and cool. During this season I take the time to look more closely at all of the things I am thankful for, with special consideration of just how many blessings God has allowed me to have in my life. But today it occurred to me, and I pause to question … why do I wait for these special times of the year to seek a time to slow down and be thankful? Not meaning to take away from the uniqueness of this time of year, but why do I not live my life daily as a “time to be thankful”? I ask myself these questions, why does the new year leave behind the inner sense of thankfulness and spur us toward filling our lives with “things to do”. How do we get caught up in our goals and new year resolutions, losing sight of the calm sense of thankfulness we felt during the holiday season. It brings me to consider that just maybe this year with the dong of the midnight hour on December 31st, I will add to the top of my “to do list” to have as my phrase for the year “A Time to be Thankful”.

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalms 100:4