I realized recently that I have become so single-minded on what is upside down in my life, that I fail to see the little blessings that God gives me everyday - such as a wonderful husband and so much more.

I am thankful my husband has been given to me as a gift for the past thirty-three years.  I am thankful for the two daughters and four grandchildren who provide me with oodles of smiles, hugs, and kisses regularly.  And I am thankful for a roof over my head, food in my stomach, excellent health, and friends who love me - standard thankfulness kinds of things.

However, I find I can become gray and gloomy and crabby and obstinate, and forget about the goodness that is all around me.  How childish to think that I deserve something, and that I can stomp my feet in front of my God.  Perhaps, when I can come before him without a little tantrum, he will realize my heart is changing back to a place of gratefulness, and things will fall into place once again.  I am thankful for God’s patience with me.

I love these two quotes I came across today on thankfulness.

Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.      ~ Garrison Keillor

When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them.                ~ Chinese Proverb

Praying you are able to see, with clarity, all the little blessings before you this Thanksgiving.

When you were making plans to get married, did you take “spouse classes”?

Thousand upon thousands of dollars are invested in educational goals, building and developing a career, and  becoming an expert in a chosen field.  Unfortunately, few of us choose to work equally hard at becoming a student of marriage. Think about it - what if the same effort in studying, reading, listening to lectures, and test taking was required to walk down the aisle and marry the person of your dreams? 

 To become a successful student of marriage, one needs to do the following:

• pay attention
• take responsibility for their actions
• exhibit a willingness to improve
• be observant and respectful
• participate and ask questions
• engage in meaningful conversation
• take the job seriously

Perhaps, a few spouse classes are worth pursuing?