Being thankful is not just for the Thanksgiving holiday. When we find ourselves overwhelmed with burdens and worried about tomorrow, we can praise God for who he is and for his promise to never leave us or forsake us. We have been blessed with the free gift of salvation and eternal life.

Often times, we take everything we have for granted. Sometimes, we even feel entitled to receive things we know we didn’t even work for. Thanksgiving should not be the only day you are thankful for everything you have; one day, you won’t have those things and you’ll wish you did.

With the Texas shooting and other horrible tragedies that have recently occurred, one starts to see how fleeting life is. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget how fragile our lives are and how, at any moment, it can vanish. It’s important to remember that every day you have on this earth could also be someone’s last. We need to acknowledge what we have before it’s gone.

We should be aware of what we have at all times and remember to show appreciation for the people that matter the most. You never know what could happen on any given day. It’s easy to lose sight of what is important in life when you’re wrapped up in the hectic craziness of today’s world. But trust me, in the grand scheme of things, and no matter where life takes you, there’s nothing more important than your friends and family.

Thanksgiving is also about staying humble, kind and realizing that there are people who are in far worse situations than you. You may think your life is hard and complicated, but when you look at some of the tragedy that happens all over the world, you should think again. Just imagine what it’s like to be a starving family in a third-world country, or just trying to make it through each day with contaminated drinking water, or a refugee fleeing from a war zone in the Middle East. There’s always someone in the world that is struggling more than you are, maybe even struggling for their life.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (Thessalonians 5:16-18)