Thanksgiving and Hanukkah both fall on the same day this year, first time since 1888.
It's always easy to be grateful when the blessings are coming your way. However, how do you maintain a thankful heart when sometimes it seems your whole world is falling apart? How do you maintain a positive attitude? We were recently invited to take part at a dinner at Hope Of The Valley Rescue Mission. It is an organization that provides daily shelter, meals, hot showers, clothing, education, rehab and other life essential services to the homeless, in the San Fernado Valley.
Many are single moms, others receive help to overcome addictions, and receive training to be able to care for themselves, once again, and be productive members of our society. At the dinner several people stood up and gave their testimonies. Each one had a genuine attitude of gratitude. What was refreshing and touching at the same time, was that they were thankful for what they had received at Hope Of The Valley, and they had hope on what remained in their lives, rather than what was taken. They had learned how to minimize their burdens and how to maximize their blessings. A lesson for all of us to learn.
I hope that the following quotes on "Gratitude", from the book "Quotations to help you-from out of their minds", by Mel and Bryna Solon, will set the mood as we are preparing for this Thanksgiving Season.
Enjoy the good food (and all that tryptophan) and fellowship with your family and friends and don't worry about dieting........you can start a diet the day after!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
It's always easy to be grateful when the blessings are coming your way. However, how do you maintain a thankful heart when sometimes it seems your whole world is falling apart? How do you maintain a positive attitude? We were recently invited to take part at a dinner at Hope Of The Valley Rescue Mission. It is an organization that provides daily shelter, meals, hot showers, clothing, education, rehab and other life essential services to the homeless, in the San Fernado Valley.
Many are single moms, others receive help to overcome addictions, and receive training to be able to care for themselves, once again, and be productive members of our society. At the dinner several people stood up and gave their testimonies. Each one had a genuine attitude of gratitude. What was refreshing and touching at the same time, was that they were thankful for what they had received at Hope Of The Valley, and they had hope on what remained in their lives, rather than what was taken. They had learned how to minimize their burdens and how to maximize their blessings. A lesson for all of us to learn.
I hope that the following quotes on "Gratitude", from the book "Quotations to help you-from out of their minds", by Mel and Bryna Solon, will set the mood as we are preparing for this Thanksgiving Season.
- "When counting your blessings, be sure to include on your list those things your are grateful for because they are not part of your life: those dreadful things that never happened to you. Consider how much worse things could be, and then be thankful for what is" -T.Y.
- "Express Gratitude generously, and sincerely; receive Gratitude humbly and graciously; expect Gratitude rarely if ever" Dr. William Arthus Ward
Enjoy the good food (and all that tryptophan) and fellowship with your family and friends and don't worry about dieting........you can start a diet the day after!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
