Thanksgiving season is the allocated time to indulge in excessive eating and drinking as a show of our gratitude for blessings received all year round. It should also be considered as a time of reflection during which we can focus our attention on specific blessings that we take for granted. Below are ten things we should be grateful for, not only over Thanksgiving, but all year round.

·        Life: Life is a gift from God. It is therefore a privilege to be counted amongst the living. The breath of life that sustains man can be withdrawn at anytime, so each new day is another opportunity to fulfill God’s purpose.

·        Living: Many are alive but not living. For example, one who is on life-support is far from living. Be thankful therefore for the grace of being well and active.

·        Relationships: We should be thankful for the people in our lives; family, friends, and anyone with whom we are connected in meaningful relationships. Indeed, we ought to be grateful for the love and support we share with each and every one of them. Life will be meaningless without the various levels of community ties and relationships that we tend to take for granted sometimes.

·        Provisions: The faithfulness of God provides us with all our needs. No matter the situation we find ourselves, His provision in diverse ways gives us the hope we need to carry on.

·         Wisdom and Intellect: You may never appreciate the true value of your mind and sanity until you lose it or experience this in the life of someone you love. Take the time to acknowledge that you are sane and be grateful for your ability to learn and understand.

·        Grace: If you simply conjure up in your mind, all the “could have been” scenarios in your life, be they positive or negative, you may begin to catch a glimpse of what undeserved blessings we receive and take for granted. You may not be all you desire to be, but whatever you are or have is by the grace and mercy of God alone. Whether your dreams come true now, tomorrow or never, hope tells you two things; anything is still possible as long as you are alive, and things could always be worse. So remember to give thanks for what you have and be hopeful for the things you desire.

·        Purpose: Every one of us was created in order to fulfill a particular purpose. When God made you, He had something in mind for you to accomplish. Whether you have accomplished it or not, be thankful that God loves you enough to count you worthy of fulfilling His purpose through you. People tend to want to choose lofty goals and great heights of achievement without first accepting their ordained paths of destiny.

·        Destiny: Your destiny is a chosen path by which you may accomplish God’s purpose. There may be many paths to greatness but only one path to destiny. Be grateful that you have a destiny and given the grace, you will align your will to God’s perfect will and design to fulfill your destiny.

·        Afflictions and Interruptions: Nothing happens by chance and all things are providently designed to push you into a divine order. So be grateful for your afflictions and what may seem like interruptions in your life; they are designed for you to acquire more strength and wisdom.

·       Disappointments and Chastisement: Be grateful for your past mistakes and God’s ability and willingness to correct you each time you drop the ball. Be appreciative of the fact that you are being corrected because you are loved. God’s love is manifested even in His judgment; for God will not redeem that which he has not judged. Redemption means that His love is there to rescue us from the consequences of our own mistakes. Hence, we should make Thanksgiving a daily affair.