With November at an end, so ends the series of social media status updates on Facebook wherein some of my friends shared 30 days’ worth of gratitude sentiments.  Add to that the sermons I heard at church the past two Sundays on the merits and characteristics of true gratitude.

Small wonder that I find myself reflecting on the topic of gratitude, wondering why we so often focus on what we don’t have, won’t have, haven’t become, can’t become – all of the lack we feel and unfulfilled desires we have.

As human beings, we seemed to be programmed (probably for good reason) on the future rather than the past. But as a result, sometimes we fail to take into account how much we have and how far we’ve come.  And we fail to thank the people who have come into our lives to make them better, or to make us better in some way, as a result of our engagement with them.

Have I told you lately that I love you?

Customer Thank Yous

Thank you to all those who take time to read my posts.  If no one read them, I wouldn’t write them.

Thank you to all those who share them with others. If no one shared them, I wouldn’t think they mattered to anyone.

Thank you to all those who comment on my blog and social networks. If no one talked back, I wouldn’t challenge my own assumptions and hone my thinking. And I wouldn’t have a chance to get to know you.

Thank you to all those who reach out to me with personal messages and questions on email.  If no one ever asked me for help or advice, I wouldn’t feel like I was making a difference in the world.  I wouldn’t feel like any of it mattered.

Thank you to all those who have purchased any of my books or calendars.  If no one bought my books and calendars, I wouldn’t be able to spend time writing them. I wouldn’t be able to pay my bills, hosting fees, utilities, printing costs.  Oh, and I wouldn’t have anything to eat, either!

Thank you to the developers and programmers and technicians and technology that make it all possible. If not for these people and this platform, I’d be stuck with pen and paper in my own little corner of the world.

I’m grateful.

I’m grateful for what has gone before and I’m grateful for all of the opportunity that exists in the future. And most of all, I’m grateful for you, the people who have come into my life to make my life better, and who make me better, too.

Elizabeth