Monday, November 25, 2019

Four Steps to a Happy Thanksgiving

By: Joanne Viola


Everyone desires to enjoy life. We seek to experience life with joy, striving to take in as much pleasure and/or satisfaction as we are able each day.

Peter, in writing to God’s chosen people [aka – us] tells us:

“If you want to enjoy life and seem many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”
(1 Peter 3:10-11, NLT)

Thanksgiving can be a time of blessing, or a time of stress, as families will gather around tables to enjoy a meal together. There is wisdom in these verses which can be applied to our day. 

Do you want to enjoy and have a happy day?
  1. Keep your tongue.
  2. Turn away from any hurtful conversation.
  3. Do good.
  4. Search for peace and maintain it.
The sound of my mom’s voice, singing a simple song to my granddaughter when she was three years old Jocelyn comes back to my mind …
“If you want to be happy. If you want to be glad. Then Obey. Obey. Obey.”
As we obey these four simple suggestions,
may we all enjoy our Thanksgiving Day!


Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash
 

9 comments:

  1. Joanne,
    What perfect reminders, especially when we will be among family, and sometimes tensions are high. Keep your tongue. It reminds me of the adage, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Wise words still! We have to stay off some topics of conversation in order to keep the peace. No need to wander down a destructive path. Much needed reminders as we head into the season of family gatherings.
    Blessings and Happy Thanksgiving,
    Bev xx

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    1. It's amazing how emotionally charged a table can become with certain topics of conversation. We each can do our part in keeping this Thanksgiving happy and peaceful. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving as well, Bev!

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  3. Oh, these tips are gold. So simple, they are things I can actually do! Thank you for encouraging me!

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    1. Yes, with a little duct tape over my mouth, I should do fine :)

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  4. Sad that we have to write these types of posts. Many families are so broken and can't find a way to get along yet this verse tells us how to do so in four steps. Thanks for the reminder.

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    1. Yvonne, we can be the ones to start and maintain a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving.

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  5. When kids become adults and have their own ways of thinking, or distant relatives or new friends get together with us, opinions are bound to clash at some point. What great advice for keeping peace.

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    1. Barbara, there are so many opinions and you are right, they are bound to clash at some point. May we also remember it is OK to have different opinions and while we may not always agree, we must always be respectful. May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving!

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