Who Are You Thankful for?

Although I've become lazy in recent years in accomplishing this practice, "November Joy" is an action I highly recommend! It began many years ago in my heart and always brought a smile to my face. When I would turn the calendar over to November, I began to consider those people who made a different in my life that year. Then I'd write them a note thanking them for being in my life.

Many of us see Thanksgiving as a "family" celebration, and that's a good thing. I encourage you to expand that view and show thankfulness to those folks in your life who've brought a smile, helped in a time of need or just made you feel good. It could be a phone call, a visit, a gift of food or an item you make, even an email message. Anything to say, "Thank you for being in my life!"

Right after I decided "November Joy" would be my next blog post, I pulled up an email from Linda, an old friend. She wrote, "Last night on the CMA awards, Kenny [Rodgers] sang a song that reminds me of our life-long friendship." I pulled the video up on You Tube and was teary-eyed before it was over. "You Can't Make Old Friends" is the song he sang. I encourage you to pull it up and listen.

It is beautifully sung with his friend Dolly Parton. Allow me a moment to endorse this thought. Linda and I began our relationship in elementary school, and by God's grace have remained friends to this day. We had a few years of no contact after high school until her son and my daughter ended up in the same third grade class. We've been through thick and thin, sorrow and happiness, fun and somber moments.

Old friends. I'm fortunate to have three friends that were in my early school days: Linda B, Paula and Linda D. And many other girlfriends through all seasons of my life. Friends are one of my greatest blessings, and I don't take it lightly. You need to be a friend to have friends. Thank you dear ones!

Please indulge me as I once again share one of my favorite poems on friendship by the poet Edgar Guest, 1881-1959:

"I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me;
I'd like to be the help that you've been always glad to be;
I'd like to mean as much to you each minutes of the day,
As you have meant, old friend of mine, to me along the way.

"I'm wishing at this time that I could but repay,
A portion of the gladness that you've strewn along my way;
And could I have one wish this year, this only would it be:
I'd like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me."

So, what do you say? Has your heart been touched to consider "November Joy" as you go through this month of thanksgiving? Have I encouraged you to say thank you to the special people who have made a difference in your life? And what about your old friends?

Who are you thankful for? Why don't you find an old swing like the one below and consider how to celebrate "November Joy!"

In closing, I want to thank my God for my 35 years of salvation on November 14th. A new life was born, and I'm eternally grateful to be a part of the family of God because of what Jesus did for me. I celebrate my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!