“A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17:22‬a TPT‬‬

This verse has been a favorite of mine and I say to myself a lot “a cheerful heart, is GOOOOOD medicine.” The thing is, I have to remind myself because I have battled melancholia during this time of year, for most of my adult life. Gratitude during the holiday season comes hard for me because, unfortunately, I tend to gravitate towards grief.

I have noticed a shift in myself as I practice gratitude, and the use of that word “practice” is very intentional. When we practice we improve. What might feel unnatural or difficult, gradually gets easier as we exercise our gratitude muscles. While the big things are always noticeable, a grateful heart magnifies the small things.

Have you ever met someone that was so cheerful it was contagious? Someone with a laugh that lights up their entire face and maybe a snort when they get going? I have a few friends like that, and you know, their cheerful hearts really are good medicine for me. I see this beautiful great- grandmother at church every Sunday, and she has a killer smile. I’ve never heard her voice before, I honestly don’t know that she speaks, but week after week her countenance lights up my life. She will pat my arm, and I hers, and her smile just about bowls me over. I can just tell she has a grateful heart and her joy is obvious. It spills over and I feel more grateful.

Last November I asked some friends to help me write a piece on gratitude, and it was such a hit I figured I had to revisit the theme again this year. As I read through all of the responses to my “tell me something good” posts, I began to feel a little more hopeful. I noticed that I too was grateful for the big and small things. I just had to be open to recognizing them, and be willing to shift my heart posture to one that was content in every situation. Contentment doesn’t come easily, but it comes when we live in the now.

There is a lot of advice out there for practicing gratitude, so I am sure you can find something that works for you. For me, I have been asking my Father in Heaven to help me see the things I would otherwise miss and to help me to appreciate His handiwork in my life.

What does that look like in a practical way? Instead of complaining that the new puppy loves the 5 o’clock hour, I pour myself a hot cup of coffee and head out with him to a spot in my yard that is perfect for watching the sunrise. I listen to the birds, I watch the colors as the night transitions to daytime, and I appreciate that no one else likes this time of day. I meet with God in the silence and the solitude of the early morning hours, and He quiets my soul. I spend the time thanking Him for anything and everything I can think of.

As my day wears on this is what I try to do. I try to shift into a posture of gratefulness. I fight off the feelings of melancholy and an urge to complain by focusing on the “ever glorious work of God”. I try to be intentional with my time and what I allow to enter into my heart and soul through people, television, music and especially social media. I’m not great at this, but I am getting better.

As you read on and move into whatever your day holds, I pray you begin to notice the sunrise and the sunset, and revel in the colors painting the sky in grandeur. Perhaps you’ll snuggle down a little deeper in the covers, and find your heart thankful for the warmth and safety. Big or small, there is something you can fix your grateful gaze on today.

I hope you find good medicine here, and that a spirit of joy would saturate your lives during the holiday season. Just like great-grandma, I pray that your countenance would light up because you have a deep, and abiding wellspring of joy that bubbles over onto the people you meet.

“Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

I am thankful for…..

“Florida sunshine, swimming in November and time with my bestie!”

“I’ve finally gotten my new floors in the house and can have people over without being embarrassed! Good day!!!”

“I’m thankful for financial stability. It feels great to finally have a nest egg. I’m also thankful we bought a camper. We have been on so many trips this year and I’m thankful for the family time.”

“Sleep so good you wake up refreshed.”

“For my husband. He makes me laugh like no one else!”

“Thankful for the beauty that my Dad hid every where in nature, so when I see it I am amazed at His hand of artistry, creativeness and majesty!”

“Thankful for hot steaming cup’s of tea in the morning.”

“Thankful for family and friend bon fires, dinners,get together’s.”

“Thankful for old songs that bring back sweet memories.”

“Thankful for worship with sisters and brothers in Christ. My spirit is always so touched and moved when we are together.”

“This year I have so much to be grateful for but I’d say my big thing is still having my Dad here. After almost losing him after heart surgery it was pretty traumatizing and so grateful that God was with me and my family. He pulled us all through and I could not have gotten through it without him. So so grateful.”

“Our little miracle, Grace and all the little things that come with raising one of God’s children. Dancing with her in the papoose, seeing my husband light up when he sees her, seeing the wonder in her eyes, reading to her, praying over her & most of all, watching the Lord use her already.”

“Too many things to try to name and the Lord is always at the top with family, but here are a few others:
*The first Breath of each morning.
*Riding our Motorcycle on fall/spring days with my sweet love and seeing God’s hand around me.
*Snuggles with my boo-boo bear -AKA- Chewie
*Worship music
*Hot tea – loveliness
*Reading something that moves my heart
*Friends – deep,Jesus pointing, true, cry and laugh with you, no judgement.”

“I really do have so much to be grateful for. This year I’m content and happy and at peace. I really have been for a few years now, but this year is just unmatched”

“I’m thankful for being able to retire in 2020 and have all the extra time to spend with my girls before they leave the coop in a few years. I never got all the extra time as I worked a full-time job all their lives. Thankful my parents are still with me and getting back to Freedom Church due to C19. Thankful my husband is still able to work a full-time job and not be at home with me so we don’t hurt each other. Thankful for my Church Family and those awesome worship groups!”

“I am grateful for my faith. It’s faith in God that gets me through the trials of life.“

“Thankful for the beauty of the leaves changing color and oh, so thankful for the wonderful people God has blessed me with! Particularly thankful for getting to see a pic of my baby boy at boot camp!”

“The sun rises and sun sets.Campfires, and long walks with friends, and coffee ! Hay rides and corn mazes and pumpkin patches. Strangers who become family everywhere we go!”

“For lots of great memories with Dad and that when his time came it was quick and peaceful.”

“I am extremely thankful for the time I was able to spend with my son over the past year, despite the heaviness of covid and the news, I was able to spend time and care for my son in a way I never thought I would have the chance. Even though I was working from home, I loved being there to see him after-school, not being so rushed to get everyone dressed and out the door, and being home to have dinner at a normal time. Life just sloooowed down! On the flip side I am struggling with the return back to work and trying to hold on to some of the slowness.”

“I am thankful God can use each of us a long as we are willing to be used. Thankful for this new journey God is leading me on. Seriously I’m going back to college? At my age? Apparently!”

“Love this. I am thankful God sees what could be and speaks it into existence.”

“My cozy bed and my bedding. I take that serious! I’m also grateful that every night I tuck my puppies into their beds and get to snuggle my husband.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and do something I’ve never done before. So thankful that through prayer God has guided and opened the doors needed to be able to leave home for 2 months, first time ever being away from my family for this long. So very thankful to be able to have time to be still and quiet to hear God. It’s strengthened my relationship with God and my family during an extremely difficult time. Can’t forget to mention my tribe, so blessed and grateful for each and every one of them!”

“Thankful that God gave me the courage to finally walk away from a bad relationship and trust him in this and not to fear what tomorrow will bring.”

“I am thankful for friends who have gone out of their way to encourage me during this season of my life. For the laughter, the coffee and most of all the honesty. Even when it causes me to look within and adjust accordingly.”

“I am thankful for hot coffee on cool days!”

“I am thankful that I got to spend time with my mother before she passed away. Covid stole so much time from us, but I feel like we redeemed some time in the end.”

“I am thankful for belly laughs with my family that end in tears. There is nothing like laughing so hard you cry with the people you love.”

” I am thankful for my homeschool community. They keep me encouraged, share their brillaint life hacks, and remind me it doesn’t have to be perfect.”

“I am thankful for the debt free journey I have been on. I have grown so much in personal finance and being content with what I have. I am experiencing more and more freedom as I pay off my debts. It’s amazing!”

“I am thankful for sobriety! I am living a life I would have never dreamed possible.”

“I am thankful for my stylist who is always makes me feel beautiful!”

“I am thankful for my job.”

“I am grateful for the winter season because it always causes me to slow down. I need the rest.”

“It’s a lazy Saturday and I have a good book to read!”

“I got new tires!”

“I am so thankful for my husband who works so hard providing for us.”

“I am thankful for the birthday celebration that brought all of our family back together. We haven’t all spent time together since before covid, and it really touched my heart seeing everyone together again.”

“Lift up a great shout of joy to Yahweh! Go ahead and do it—everyone, everywhere! Worship Yahweh with gladness. Sing your way into his presence with joy! And realize what this really means— we have the privilege of worshiping Yahweh our God. For he is our Creator and we belong to him. We are the people of his pleasure. You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise. Come right into his presence with thanksgiving. Come bring your thank offering to him and affectionately bless his beautiful name! For Yahweh is always good and ready to receive you. He’s so loving that it will amaze you— so kind that it will astound you! And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all. Everyone knows our God can be trusted, for he keeps his promises to every generation!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:1-5‬ ‭TPT‬‬