Thanksgiving. A holiday full of family, love…food. So much food. I am sure if you ask anyone what their favorite thing about Thanksgiving is, they would probably say it was the food. Not going to lie, it’s my favorite part. Then again, I love food. Then there is the preparation of Black Friday. Where, as a family, you gather together to take advantage of all the awesome deals that the stores have. It is an all-around good time.

        Thing is, we have forgotten the most important part of the holiday. It’s funny how that happens, especially since it is in the name. We forget to give thanks. We forget to give thanks for all the things that have happened to us up until that point. So, it’s not much of a shocker to think that in our own daily lives we have forgotten to give thanks as well.

        I, myself, used to be bad at being thankful. I was so focused on all the things that were wrong or that could go wrong in my life that I couldn’t see all the good in it. I was a very ungrateful child…even if it didn’t come off that way, I know I was. It wasn’t until college that I came to find out what it was like to truly be thankful.

        It was my Freshman year in college when I met my husbands best friend Leon. We met as most young people meet nowadays…through the internet. It was a little strange to get to know someone that way (at least it was for me since I am old fashioned). However, we talked a lot, played video games together, and I got to know Leon very well. I could see why my husband and he were such good friends.

        The thing that impressed me the most about Leon was his love for God and how thankful he was about everything. It was like a light emanated from him that would just exhume how thankful he was. I had never met anyone like that before. Someone who was genuinely thankful for everything in life. That is how we are meant to be.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

        It wasn’t that Leon had an amazing life and that was why he was thankful. On the contrary, Leon has had a lot of hardships in his life. Just like the rest of us, he has had financial problems, relationship problems, but most of all, health problems. However, even amid all the darkness, Leon always seems to find something to be thankful for.

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of your hands.” -Psalm 138:7-8

        As I got to know Leon, I wanted to be more like him. I wanted to focus on all the good in my life and know that in the bad times, God is with me. I know that personally, I was not in the best place in college. I never did anything bad or too wild, but spiritually I was far from God. In part, it was because I didn’t think I deserved to be redeemed. However, Leon reminded me of what I learned as a kid. He reminded me of God’s unfailing and unconditional love. Even when things seem bad, God never leaves our side. He is there holding our hand leading us through the storm.

“For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’” – Isaiah 41:13

        Even though Leon has had to live through some very difficult hardships, God had used him to bless others around him. I am one of those people. After seeing how thankful he was, even for the smallest of things, I wanted to be more like him. We should all strive to be a least a little more thankful. For the big things and the small things.

        We thank God for our loved ones, our jobs, our homes, our success, but we forget the small things too. Now, most people might see this story as silly, however, you will see what I mean in the end. I have a huge sweet tooth. I love candy and often have cravings for different kinds of candy. Anyways, while I was at college, I got one of my cravings for Starburst. I didn’t have any money on me at the time so I couldn’t just go buy some. I was heading back to my dorm when the RA for my dorm hall greeted me and we started talking. As we were talking, she offered me some candy, and wouldn’t you know it…she gave me some Starburst.

        Like I said, some might find this story silly. However, at that moment, I was so grateful for that small piece of candy. I was craving for it and the only one who knew about it was God. Even though it was something small (and not good for me), God provided it for me. So, yes, even the small things are from God too.

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

        I know that most of the time we forget to be thankful because we are worried we won’t get what we need. However, we already know that in the same way God feeds the birds, He will provide for us as well. Even more so because He loves us, He created us in His own image, and Jesus gave His life for us so that we may be saved. We don’t need to worry about whether or not we will make it through the storm because Jesus is leading us through it.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”- Isaiah 41:10

        This is why, even in the bad times, we must be thankful. I know it’s easier said than done. However, if we truly believe and have faith in God, then we know that in the end, it will all go according to His plan. What God has for us is way better than anything we can come up with.

        The way we handle adversity tells a person a lot about our character. That is how I could tell right away that Leon was a son of God. In anything and everything he does, He gives all the glory and thanks to God. I want to be like that always. By keeping our hope in God and by being a more thankful person, we can find true happiness. I encourage you all to be thankful for everything, big or small. Enjoy the good times and know that the bad times will soon be over. Laugh and be thankful.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1