Thanksgiving is upon us and as we all gather around with family or friends to enjoy each other and to fill our bellies, we’re always reminded to be thankful.
Many families will go around the table and share something they are grateful for while partaking of the feast on their plates. Folks who can not or rather not make a big Thanksgiving dinner could possibly attend an area church’s dinner. Check out our Community Calendar for options.
Of course, the grand Community Thanksgiving Open Table that Carlie Hammond and the other Good Samaritans and volunteers work so hard to put on welcomes everyone to join the festivities at the Fannin County High School cafeteria from noon to 4 p.m. on Turkey Day.
With so many people and organizations who care so much about the people, and animals, of this community, Fannin County and the Copper Basin certainly do have plenty to be thankful for.
Gratefulness can actually be good for your health, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Benefits include better sleep, increased self-esteem and empathy while having fewer negative emotions like aggression, envy, resentment and regret.
Many grateful folks have fewer aches and pains, and at least one study found that the grateful tend to be more likely to be physically active and participate in routine check ups with their doctors.
Luckily, gratefulness doesn’t have to come naturally. It can be cultivated.
One way to cultivate gratefulness is to write it down. Every morning when you wake up and every evening before bed write down about five things you’re grateful for.
Another way to practice thankfulness is to say it. Verbally thank God for the food you’re about to eat, for the house you have or whatever the case may be. Also, be free with your thank yous when coworkers help you out, family members do something nice or when the stranger holds the door for you.
Once we practice this long enough, we’ll begin to see our attitudes change and before long we’ll be naturally thankful and be reaping all the related benefits. Plus, knowing the affect our gratefulness has on others is an added bonus.
One thing I’m grateful for is getting to meet Mrs. Debbie Dockery, the Director of Women’s Ministry at World Harvest Church North, and also Pastor Asa’s wife, several weeks ago. She led the worship team and was a fellow writer.
My mind has struggled with rationalizing why she would be taken from this Earth so soon. But, there is no explanation. No explanation that is satisfactory to our human brains and emotions.
World Harvest Church North is a small but mighty church and it comforts me, and hopefully the congregation, to know Ms. Debbie is in heaven continuing her praise and work for the Lord.
Lauren Bearden is assistant editor at The News Observer. She can be reached at 706-632-2019 or by email at lauren@thenewsobserver.com.