I was working through a couple of blog post ideas, trying to decide which to use. Then I remembered this was Thanksgiving week.

"Hmm," I thought. "I should probably say something about Thanksgiving."

But what could I say that I hadn't already said? What new angle or twist could I come up with?

Then I thought---does Thanksgiving really need an angle? Can't we just---be thankful?

But what if we're not feeling so thankful?

Well, thanksgiving isn't a feeling. It's an action, an act of the will. And once we start giving thanks, it's not long before we feel thankful.

If you're not feeling so grateful this week, maybe you could read some psalms, like 100 or 103 or 107 or 145.

Or you could sing or read some hymns, like "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" or "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."

Or you could recount your Ebenezers, those times in your life you especially saw God's hand at work.

Or you could make a list of simple blessings: a beautiful sunset, a warm home, friends and family, food to eat, and so on.

Though we should be thankful every day, Thanksgiving is a good reminder that we do have a lot to be thankful for. I've found that once I get started looking for things to be thankful for, it's hard to stop.

It's fine to create a Thanksgiving feast (we will) or try some new ideas to spur thankfulness (we have) or set out Pinterest-worthy decorations or or try some Thanksgiving-ish crafts (done those, too).

It's also fine to eat out or use paper plates or grill hamburgers or make sandwiches.

But simply giving thanks to the Giver of all good things often gets lost in the shuffle of everything else. Whatever else we do, may giving thanks to Him be our main focus.

Here's both a hymn and a thankful list! It's beautifully sung by the Sacred Music Services' men's chorus.

I wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, someone to share it with, something good to eat, some time to rest, and some time to "give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 107:1).