A week devoted to thankfulness.

Here I am again, sitting on one of my mismatching plaid couches contemplating another post. This time there is a pile of yarn at my feet (waiting to be knit into Christmas scarves), the strong scent of Cinnamon and Spice in the air, Thanksgiving leftovers filling my fridge, and the now “legal” Christmas music playing. This week has been exactly what I’ve needed—peace, quiet, rest, time to cook sentimental food, and most importantly extra time in the Word and with Drew. The last thing that I want to do is two more weeks of school after tasting what break is like—but I am encouraged knowing it will quick and painless. I’ll feel completely better once the poetry reading is over. I’ve never been too confident in my poetry writing skills.  

I am so looking forward to the extended break that is Christmas—we’ll be going “home” to family and friends, and celebrating through all of those traditional family festivities. This time of the year—beginning with Thanksgiving and ending with Christmas—certainly lends to the extended thoughtfulness of being thankful, feeling blessed, showing love (with the exception of the crazies that I saw on Black Friday—I think the holidays mean something else to them). This feeling or mentality seems to be inevitable. Everything is warm, comforting, and cheery—people are happier, more generous, and more “smiley.” The holiday season is indefinitely a “ray of sunshine” in the middle of winter and for some, the school year. 

But what I have been considering, mulling over in my mind—is that as appreciative as I am for the generous and thankful spirits at this time of year, these characteristics are not truly genuine in the end. At least this is what I have been noticing in my life and attitude. It is easy to be thankful or happy during this week, or on Christmas day—but what about the other three hundred plus days of the year? Am I as grateful or at peace when I’m struggling through a health issue? In a relationship struggle? When a loved one is suffering? Or when life has become supposedly mundane?

The thing is, God did not designate a week to fill our “thankfulness quota.” He does not want a shallow, self-sustaining answer to the Facebook question: “What are you thankful for?” This is something that I have to remind myself of—not putting off my gratitude for one week of the year. Rather than dismissing the tempations to vent negative thoughts, or inwardly question God’s sovereignty, or become too calloused to notice the difference—I need to discipline my heart and emotions so that when the holidays roll around, my heart is truly thankful rather than what it feels it ought to be. 

It is easy to disguise yourself to be what you’re not—what you know you should be. But the ability to be truly grateful, joyful, at peace, encouraged, and sustained is being genuine to the Word and in your relationship with God. This is my prayer for my heart, my thoughts, and my pursuit this holiday season.