The Word: Season is rich with gratitude, blessings

Getting your

As I sat down to write the devotion, I was reminded that it’s both a privilege and a challenge.

No single message can reach or touch everyone in the same way. It also can be challenging to write at the beginning of the month, when important events such as an election, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the start of Advent are coming up before I write again.

Throughout it all, I thought about gratitude.

Gratitude helps us see beyond life’s busyness and recognize God’s presence in the midst of it all. As we give thanks for family, friends, community and the blessings we sometimes take for granted, we are reminded that gratitude is more than a feeling. It is a way of living that helps us recognize God’s grace and share it with others.

The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NRSV, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

This does not mean every circumstance is easy or that we should overlook the struggles of our neighbors. Rather, it reminds us that even in uncertain times, we can trust in God’s faithfulness. We remember the importance of the decisions we make, t...