What a fantastic week it’s been. Who doesn’t love this time of year?

Let’s see…we have Friendsgiving – the day before Thanksgiving, when friends in from out of town get together and catch up with their old crew. There’s Thanksgiving, of course – with food, family, fun, and more food (who’s not a fan of that?)

Then we have Small Business Saturday – when we support and honor the hard-working people at family owned businesses and mom and pop shops. By giving them our business we are helping to keep jobs and  dollars in our own community.  And finally we have Give Back Tuesday, when we are encouraged to count our blessings and share what we have been so graciously given by God with those who are in need, through donations to our favorite charities.

Grateful Every Day

This whole week was about being grateful, and recognizing your blessings. I heard the term “Thanks-living” used to remind us-especially followers of Christ- that every day, all year long, is a good time to be thankful to God.  I couldn’t agree more!

In the midst of it all,  I had the chance to get out of the house one day this week to run errands and go to an appointment, and I was so overcome by gratitude!   When someone does their work in  an exceptional way, with such integrity and sincerity, I am nearly brought to tears of gratitude and admiration for them.  I find it to be one of the best ways to live out our Christianity.   It was one of those great mornings where everything went better than expected.

First, I received exceptional physical therapy and felt fantastic afterwards, and had a friendly chat with with the new PT tech at my clinic. She was so sweet, I left smiling. That was followed by a great visit to the Rochester  post office. Contrary to what many  think about going to the post office, the downtown Rochester location is terrific. With fast, friendly service and helpful staff, they are the best.  And everyone I encountered there just seemed to be in a good mood, smiling, holding the door open for each other, making small talk.

Then there was the guy at the gas station who pumps my gas  (yes, you can still get full service at  a gas station!  In downtown Rochester, at any rate).   He is a true sweetheart and just a really nice, earnest guy who works with  diligence and kindness.

Then, I encountered the women at the Rochester library gift shop… so, so friendly and helpful!  Very sweet and just kind beyond necessity. Finally,  I got a fantastic car wash in Lake Orion from guys who really seem to enjoy their job and were super nice and positive about it.

It’s the Little Things…

I can’t tell you what it means to me to just go out into the community and have so many uplifting experiences all at once. I’m tearing up thinking about it.  And about  how it really is the little things that make your day great.

It’s just that easy to make someone’s day, incidentally.  Every day we have the power to build someone up or tear them down.  “Be kinder than is necessary” is a very cool maxim that has resurfaced recently.  So good!


Just grateful to be part of such a stellar community…  

 

What if we lived in a constant state of gratitude and service?

I know we all go through tough times and there are some days or even seasons of our lives where it doesn’t feel like we have anything to be grateful for.  But if you’re willing to open your heart and really examine the life that you’re living, you will find that every one of us has something to be grateful for.

Gratitude is a powerful emotion. It’s hard to walk around depressed when you are counting your blessings.  And on the bad days, rather than dwell on what is going wrong, maybe think of someone who is struggling more than you are, and needs your help. There is nothing like serving others to get your mind off of your own problems.

 

What little, seemingly inconsequential, things are you grateful for that would be easy to take for granted?