In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18

Did you know that there are over 300,000 items in the average American home? (LA Times). Or, that one in ten Americans rents off-site storage? (NY Magazine) We have a lot of stuff and apparently, we are attached to it. Yet, in just a few short weeks, many Americans will rush to stores on Black Friday to get the latest and greatest. I’m not hating on Black Friday. I enjoy a great deal just as much as anyone else. The problem comes when we can’t take a moment to be thankful for what we have before we are rushing off to get what we want.

What if we did things differently this year? What if, instead of getting carried away in the frenzy, we took the time to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and contentment? Thanksgiving may come once a year as far as the holiday is concerned, but the act of being thankful can (and should be) be a way of life.

God has given us so many blessings. Each morning we arise, we need to thank the God of creation for giving us breath. Are you healthy? Be thankful for that. Have you had a meal today? Say a prayer of thanks. Is your alarm going off in the early morning hours to wake you for work? Be thankful you have a job. We are blessed.

Writer Ann Voskamp says, “When thanks to God becomes your habit, joy in God becomes your life.” A thankful heart is contagious. It’s the anecdote to irritability. It is the key to contentment. Life isn’t always easy, but we can always find something to be thankful for.

Enjoy your holiday specials and shopping for those you love. Be thankful you have the privilege to do so! But in the midst of the bargains and the deals, remember to be thankful for what you have and thank the God who gave it to you.