thankful

adjective

Definition of THANKFUL

experiencing pleasure, satisfaction, or delight <we were thankful that someone else was footing the bill for the lavish wedding banquet>

Synonyms:  blissful, chuffed [British], delighted, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, thankful, tickled

Related Words:  beaming, blithe, blithesome, buoyant, cheerful, cheery, gay, gladsome, lighthearted, sunny, upbeat; gleeful, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, merry, mirthful, smiling; beatific, ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, intoxicated, rapturous, rhapsodic (also rhapsodical); exuberant, exultant, jubilant, rapt, rejoicing, thrilled; hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine

 

When my daughters were young and in elementary school I often drove them to school in the morning.  Down the street from us lived several other little girls who often hitched a ride as they walked past our house and noticed I was pulling out of the drive.  I didn’t mind the extra passengers.  Many times they clambered into my van at the end of the school day for a ride home as well.  At the end of one school day, I was at the school standing and talking with the other mothers outside the school doors.  Lindsey, wild-haired and bright-eyed, ran up to me and the following conversation ensued:

 

Lindsay:  Can I have a ride?

Me:  Can I have a ride what?

Lindsay:  Can I have a ride in your van? (spoken with a grin and some puzzlement)

Me:  Can I have a ride in my van what?

Lindsay:  Can I have a ride in your van to my house?  (with mild confused frustration)

Me:  Can I have a ride in my van to your house what?  (as the crowd of curious little girls around us started to giggle softly)

Lindsay:  (with growing exasperation)  Can I have a ride … when you drive home … in your van … can you give me a ride home?

Another little girl nearby:  Lindsay!  Can I have a ride please?

Lindsay:  (the light bulb went on) Oh!  Can I have a ride home please?  (with a big smile added for punctuation)

 

All of us have so many things to be thankful for – and more than we even realize or acknowledge.  Whether it’s a ride to a destination, food, safe travels, healing, friendships, family, or even basic clothes and shelter – we all have plenty of reasons to say thank you.  Sometimes we ask others for something (Can I have a ride?  Or Can you please do me a favor?) And many times we pray for something (Dear God please heal my friend.  Or God please give me direction.)  There’s also all those things that we just take for granted and should be saying thank you for (like beautiful weather, money to pay the bills, a good night’s sleep).

For whatever reason Thanksgiving is celebrated – whether as a recognition of the pilgrims and their first big harvest of food in the new land or because a president declared it an official holiday – it is good to give thanks.  And although we should be saying thank you daily for all our blessings, I think it is nice to have one special day to gather together and say a very big thank you with family, friends, and food.

 

Happy Thanksgiving and

 

Please pass the gravy 🙂

 

Just laurel

 

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.