When Gratitude and Grief Meet 🌿

On Thanksgiving, the house is full of voices, full of life happening all around me. And in the middle of it all, I feel that familiar tug of grief. Not just over physical limitations, but over the parts of life that feel delayed, rewritten, or unknown.

But alongside that is the steady whisper of

God’s faithfulness. It’s as if He gently says, “You don’t have to choose between grief and gratitude. Bring both to Me.”

I’ve found that true gratitude isn’t rooted in how I feel—it’s rooted in who He is. Instead of thinking about Thanksgiving as a time where I need to feel grateful enough or completely happy with where I am, I’ve learned to see it as an opportunity to celebrate the Lord no matter what. It’s not pretending everything’s good—it’s declaring that God is good, even when life is difficult.

My gratitude has nothing to do with the day itself and everything to do with the One who is holding me through it. It’s not about how strong I feel… it’s about who He is—His goodness, His nearness, His strength that carries me when mine runs out.

Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday.

It’s a choice to worship and surrender.

It’s faith saying, “Lord, I trust You—especially here.”

I thank Him—not because the day is perfect, but because He’s been faithful in every season. That’s where my purest gratitude sits: in the middle of the real, imperfect, everyday moments, trusting that He’s big enough to hold both my grief and my praise.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 🍁