From My Heart, I Thank You Lord

He who thanks but with the lips

Thanks but in part;

The full, the true Thanksgiving

Comes from the heart.

~J.A. Shedd

We are but a little more than 2 weeks away from Thanksgiving Day.  I love the colors of this season; the vibrant oranges, golds, and reds mixed in with the browns and what is still left of the greens.  The bright orange pumpkins and the various shades of mums are lovely to look at in people's yards and on their porches.  There is a crispness in the air, like no other time of the year.  Summer has ended, yet some days are still warm; Winter has not yet arrived, yet some days are cold.  Sweaters and sweatshirts are being dug out of the winter clothes baskets and closets, soups and hot teas are on the menu, and the smells of pumpkins and apples mixed with blends of nutmeg and vanilla welcomes us home. (Even if the smells are coming from a candle, spray, or plug-in.)  This season seems to be the shortest of all seasons; it also seems to be the most overlooked season.  The 'summer lovers' are trying to get in one more fishing trip and the 'winter lovers' are trying to prepare for Christmas.  Nothing wrong with either one...but, as for me and my house, we have chosen to embrace this wonderful season of fall; this very important holiday called "Thanksgiving".  There is not as much preparing to do for Thanksgiving as for Christmas, but I do have my mums on the porch, a couple of fall decorations in the kitchen, and I'm planning my menu for a very simple, yet satisfying Thanksgiving meal.   Most of all, I'm choosing to 'live' thanksgiving.  I call it "ThanksLiving".  We should not just thank God when we pray, we should live each day in a thankful fashion.  How?  Just through observing His handiwork around us, by showing kindness to our loved ones, and strangers that we meet, by living a holy life unto the Lord, and of course, by saying "Thank You" to God often, and really meaning it from our hearts.  I love Psalms 126:3 which says, The Lord hath done great things for us; wherof we are glad.  I encourage you to live a life of 'ThanksLiving',  not just during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, but each and every moment you are blessed to live.  It will make a difference in your life and it will make a difference in the lives of those around you.  The Lord has done great things; what are you glad about today?