This Thanksgiving was extra special on many levels. I'm not going to say it was because it brought our family together, or because of the amazing food, or that the Chicago Bears actually won a football game. No, we spent the majority of this year's holiday recovering from a trip to the ER. Though I wasn't the one who was ill, and thankfully no lives were in danger, we were forced to slow down. There's nothing like mandatory down time to make you realize how busy you've been! I've come to learn that when things like this happen, sometimes it's God's way of making me stop and get the rest I need. That rest has helped remind me of why the Thanksgiving season holds such a special place in my heart.

Find the Joy

It's there if you choose to see it. It's in a rainstorm, it's in housework. Joy is in relationships, kindness, and laughter. You can find joy everywhere if you'll just look for it. We all go through hard times, and I never want to minimize anyone's pain. Sometimes we don't want to find the joy. Sometimes we actually want to be miserable. I've had periods in my life where I felt completely abandoned by God and those around me. I wasn't feeling the joy. But that doesn't mean it wasn't available to me.

One of the many gifts we have from our Heavenly Father, is that we are not bound by our circumstances. He gave us the freedom to choose joy over sadness and victory over defeat, no matter what we're facing. And once you find that joy, share it with others. They need it. They are hurting too.