Giving Thanks

My children really like Thanksgiving. I think they most like the feast. I can't blame them for that. The feast is a treat and taking the day off to spend together with family is a blessing.
Thanksgiving is also a great opportunity to consider our attitude in life. We often take for granted the myriad blessings we have. We have a warm home to shelter us from the elements, enough food to eat, clothes that are appropriate for the weather, and beyond that many things which are simply fun.
I was looking at the azure sky, the blue reflecting on the river, the trees in their Autumn foliage, etc. a couple of days ago. I realized how the food we eat and the materials needed to provide us shelter, transportation, and much more are all there for us in nature. I think one of the most perfect things that exists is the apple. They grow in abundance on trees, and are ready to eat the moment we pluck them from the branch. The experience of picking apples touches all of our senses; the feel of the firm fruit, the fragrance of the tree and the ripe apples, the color of the leaves and fruit, the flavor of the apple and snap of the skin as we bite into it. There are so many wondrous and beautiful things we take for granted.
As we think about the abundance of nature and the enjoyment we receive from it, we can have grateful hearts. As we serve our family with the chores we do, we can be thankful that we have family to serve. As we bear with that difficult person in our life, we can be glad that we probably aren't dealing with the difficulties that have made them that way.
I plan to take a few moments with my children to remind them of this. I hope that the lesson of how gratitude can make life happier will spill over into the rest of the year.