A Chocolate Thanksgiving

In 2018, on this Thanksgiving, we are being warned not to eat lettuce.  What’s ironic is that the other day, a small piece of dark chocolate revived me.  I had no energy having just returned from our amazing conference in Houston, and I had two more hours to fulfill at work.  Someone put out a bowl of chocolates.  The dark chocolate choice was brilliant.  It was what I needed. I was revived and brought all my energy back.  Who needs lettuce when chocolate revives? 

We live in a world where people complain more about events and ideas of which they have no control.  We live among a society that empowers greed and power rather than gratefulness. Actually, being thankful has never been easy for humanity, which is why Scripture is full of passages reminding us to be thankful.   It’s when we stop and take a look at what we have we realize that there is so much to be thankful for. 

It’s in the little things of life that remind me being thankful is empowering just like that little piece of chocolate.  I’m thankful I have a roof over my head, food to eat, family, friends, a job, hobbies, a computer, the Internet, clothes, entertainment, freedom, grace, love, hope, and dreams and goals.  Some people may not have any of these, but there is something to be thankful for. 

We are alive.  We are breathing.  The sun rises and sets on each new day to start over.  God is gracious to us even though we do not deserve his mercy and love he gives it freely.  Relationships may be difficult, but it’s only in the struggles of life that we grow and learn.

Psalm 136:1 says it perfectly.  “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.  His faithful love endures forever.”  No matter what we encounter in life, God’s love is extended to us beyond what we could ever give. 

So for this Thanksgiving, I’m looking around at what I have and not what I have yet to attain.  I live in a state where many people have lost everything in devastating fires.  I have friends enduring and becoming stronger even though they have severe illnesses.  It’s in the small parts of life that make me the most grateful.  It can be a small piece of chocolate that can make the day so much better.  It’s not easy, but having a grateful attitude is so much better than having a desire to want more and never achieving.  I choose gratefulness and within that I hope to empower others to be grateful and look for the chocolate moments in life.