Well, everyone, the holidays are here. Thanksgiving is this week, and it will be Christmas and New Year’s before we know it. The first of these three major holidays is none other than Thanksgiving. Several of us use this holiday as a binge eating day (including me). We give thanks by eating. That just seems to be the American thing to do.

In my opinion, which may not be that significant, Thanksgiving means reflecting on those you care about most in your life. These people could be your immediate family, friends, and people who have made a personal impact on your life. Thanksgiving is also a great time to show our troops how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication for our country.

Even if you are not able to spend Thanksgiving Day with the people you are thankful for, remember that every day is Thanksgiving. You should always be giving back to others and appreciating what others do for you. We are in the holiday season, so this is a perfect time to express your thankfulness for others. Sometimes, we take for granted the little things that people do for us. Those little things may take a lot of planning and may take a lot of effort, but these things are done for the happiness of another. This is the beauty of servanthood. Making others feel good is what makes me happy. I love to bring smiles to people’s faces because I may be the only thing that brings them joy that day. None of us know what someone is going through. If we see someone who is struggling or someone who is down, blessing them that day with a small gesture may make their day better and may bring them out of the dumps.

Thankfulness should drive you to bless others. If you make a list of things you are thankful for, what or who would they be? It’s amazing to see how much the Lord has blessed us in our lives. Sometimes, it may seem that we can’t win for losing, but the Lord always has greater plans for us. It may be a process in getting to where He is leading us, but He is using us and molding us in those situations. I am so thankful for that. I am thankful to serve a Lord who loves and cares for me so dearly that He shed His bled for me. That, my friends, is the thing that I am thankful for. I do not deserve His sacrifice, but He died for me anyway. Jesus died for me, and He continues to bless me. God has placed certain people in my life who have loved me, cared for me, and given me priceless memories. All of these are what I am thankful for.

Thanksgiving is more than just a meal . . . it’s a time to recognize who and what you are thankful for. It’s a time to give back and serve those who you are thankful for. I thank God for who He is, and I am thankful to live in a country where I can praise His name freely and enjoy the times I have with the ones I am thankful for.