I love Halloween. But not for the candy and costumes. I love that it will come and leave swiftly; instantly propelling us into the holiday season. Think about it. You retire to bed on Halloween night and awake in the throes of Yuletide joy. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year.  

I’m not one to make a sprint towards all things Christmas. I don’t begrudge those who do, but I like to savor the holidays in it’s entirety. Thanksgiving giving is warmth to me. Warm hues, family gathering and bountiful feast is the most perfect precursor to the celebration of Jesus’ birth. At the root of it all is gratitude. With November 1st serving as the starting shot, you’d be hard pressed not to find something that suggests we ponder and participate in the art of being grateful. I for one am grateful to have friends that make pointed exercises in expressing their gratefulness daily all month long.  

If you are one to practice mindfulness, gratitude is commonplace in your thoughts. Being able to identify the people, places and things that move us forward in our journey is paramount. It is also an enlightening perspective in our own self discoveries. When and where we express gratitude is a faultless indicator of our priorities. What are you most appreciative for in that moment, day, month or year? How has its impact affected your path, growth or perspective moving forward? 

Gratitude is intricately woven within my lacunae. Through years of practice, I’ve developed an inner monologue that is rich with the ability to recognize opportunities of gratefulness moment to moment. For instance, sometimes it shows itself plainly in the landscape of the day. In walking my dog I am privy to witnessing the most beautiful daybreaks. The gratitude of this experience leads me to marvel at what a wonderful architect we serve in our Lord. In more simplistic terms, the moment leads me to be grateful for my dog, Saint Charles. Whereas, if it wasn’t for him needing to be walked I would miss out on this glory. This gratitude leads me to be grateful for my husband who gifted me Saint Charles one glorious Mother’s Day. This gratitude leads me to be grateful for my children. Whereas if it weren’t for them having to get to school at a certain hour, I wouldn’t have this schedule of walking my dog and witnessing the glory of the daybreak. It unfolds and seeps into all things, which makes for a joyful existence. 

Not all places for gratitude are draped in the gold of the sun. Some, for me at least, have been in dark moments; in seemingly missed opportunities or perceived slights. I am not always immediately led to gratefulness in these times. However, time has always had a way of revealing previously hidden truths. More often than not, I have been led back to gratitude in the realization that all things work together for good. Yes, even in the dark.  

So as we embark into the crescendo of the season, I’d like to encourage you to embrace gratitude in its effortless splendor. I’d like to encourage you to carry these sentiments throughout this season and create a deluge of graciousness into the new year. Examine ways both big and small for opportunities in gratuity. I am of the belief that these opportunities keep the pendulum of goodwill swinging in your favor and the favor of all you hold dear. It is a warmth not to be missed; but to be enveloped in almost every other step of the journey that lies before us. And with that, Happy Holidays!