It’s a Gratitude Give Away! What is that you may be asking? Why, Thanksgiving of course. A heart filled with gratitude for our many provisions and blessings, while giving away of ourselves for the sake of another. A Gratitude Give Away.

We often can think of something we’re grateful for, but what will we give to others this week, next month, or even next year? Give is a short word with monumental impact. What we give another has lasting affects.

* A smile to someone feeling down

* A letter to someone lonely

* Help for someone in need

* Hospitality to friends and family

* Perform entertainment for shut-ins

* Prepare meals for the homeless

* Deliver food to the hungry

* Devote time to another

Each is different, but equally impactful.

Last night, while my husband gave of his time to organize our filing system, I found a 10-year-old letter from my best friend amongst the folders. When my husband gave of his time and organizational expertise, it created an immediate blessing. But it also is a gift that will have a long-term benefit as my piles of papers will no longer be homeless. My best friend’s letter she gave me 10 years ago was touching and informative back then as she shared a piece of herself with me. Reading it again last night only enhanced the gift as time brought deeper meaning to the words she inked long before.

To be thankful is important, but only part of a bigger picture. What is it we will give to another?

I blinked and it’s November. I’m not sure how that happened, but it did. On Friday, the grocery store had an isle of what I call Christoweens — half Halloween candy and half Christmas goodies. If not already, stores will be playing Christmas music very soon.

With the holidays around the corner, that means everyone starts being more rushed and stressed. Instinctively this weekend, I’ve found myself thinking, “I’m not ready, I’m still behind from last month!”

Unfortunately, rather than focusing on the remembrance of thanksgiving this month, the to-do lists, holiday planning, and shopping often overshadows the importance of giving thanks. Thanksgiving often means a day that we spend time cooking, then gorge ourselves with food, only to then stand in the kitchen cleaning up for hours while the men watch football. Then after the gorge-yourself day comes early-morning-shopping day to get the best sales. Which then creates another day called why-did-I-spend-so-much day.

Is that what thanksgiving is truly about? Is it just a day? If so, Canada already celebrated their day last month and it’s done for the year. But in the United States, we’ve got twenty-four days to fret until our day arrives. It sounds silly to think of thanksgiving as just a day, but isn’t that how we treat the word?

Thanksgiving is a state of mind from which our thoughts and words flow. Sure there will be things for which we are not grateful, but that doesn’t mean we negate acknowledging those things for which we do give thanks.

I’m grateful that November reminds me of a holiday that 365 days of the year, I should give thanks.

“Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day.” — Robert Caspar Lintner

As much as I love the holidays, there are a few things that threaten to take away its magnetism. Yesterday as I fought the urge of frustration with traffic, I thought of what I would do if I was in charge of the month of December.

1. For the week between Christmas and New Years, all business must close to allow family time … nothing else.
2. Snow must blanket the ground. Not too much, not too little, but with a heavy heaping at the ski resorts.
3. Christmas music must play on all radio stations.
4. All school band concerts must occur before December 5^th.
5. All creditors must give a grace period for the month.
6. All extended family members must repeat, “You come over whenever it works for you.”
7. The focus must be on being together and celebrating the birth of a Savior, not on fancy new things.
8. The real Christmas Story is required reading for every household.
9. All illnesses are eradicated.
10. And as the reformed Grinch said, “There will be no sad faces at Christmas.”

I asked my daughter last night what she’d do if she was in charge of the month of December. Here were her mandates:

1. Everyone has to go to the animal shelter and donate food, play with the animals, and keep them warm.
2. Presents are opened early (by December 23^rd).
3. It is required to have snow at every house, but not over 5 feet.
4. It must be called what it is: a CHRISTMAS Tree, not a “Holiday Tree.”
5. Stores must change their prices so little kids can buy more things with their own money.
6. Santa is banished. God gives presents.

But, we aren’t in charge. So I will play my Christmas music from a CD, I will spend as much time with my family as possible, I will accept the amount of snow the ski resorts have, I will pray for my friends burdened with illness and look for ways to encourage those discouraged. Above everything else, I will remember the reason for this season and give thanks for the greatest gift of all — Jesus Christ.