Counting my blessings

My friend Sarah Margaret gave me the devotional book pictured above. I appreciate this gift because it was a surprise and Sarah told me that she thought of me when she came across it. Considering that my faith is at the core of who I am, this gift really meant a lot to me!

I know that many people use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to express the many things that they are thankful for. What are you thankful for? Your family and friends? Your job? The fact that you have a roof over your head? President Obama's re-election? Your health? I, for one, truly consider myself very blessed and this is why I recognize that it is my responsibility to give back to the community so that others may also live the best life possible. I gained this understanding because of the family and friends who I share my Thanksgiving meal with every November. Because of their presence in my life, I am truly blessed!

However, this 365 devotional book empowers me to not limit my opportunity to build my relationship with God and express my gratitude to Thanksgiving. Thanks to Sarah's gift, I now make time every morning to enjoy peace in His presence and be thankful for the life I've been provided.

So, my friends, I encourage you to take a minute to reflect on what you are thankful for. If you find yourself identifying certain people through this process, I encourage you to reach out and tell them them how they have positively impacted your life. As the saying goes, "Make everyday count, appreciate and cherish every moment and grab everything you possibly can because you may never be able to experience it again," Kemmy Nola.