In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

-I Thessalonians 5:18, KJV

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate!

I recognize that this can be a difficult time for many reasons. It can bring up feelings of loss or old difficult memories.

One Thanksgiving Eve many years ago, I experienced the quasi-confession of my ex-wife. What a gut punch that was! I will never forget that experience. It is etched in technicolor in my memory down to the crunch of kitty litter on the beige linoleum floor of my one bedroom apartment.

Wherever you are at in your journey towards healing, I want to encourage you to find things to give thanks for.

Thanksgiving helps us heal. It reorients us towards the good in our lives and helps us to see things that get muted in these seasons.

Today, I have many things to be grateful for.

Not the least, I am grateful for you, my readers. Having a meaningful ministry to others brings my heart joy. It means my pain wasn’t wasted but God–our Great Redeemer–is still bringing beauty out of the ashes.

What are you grateful for today?