Happy Friday, everyone! Yesterday I shared how the popular book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Where You Are, by Ann Voskamp changed not only my perspective but also my attitude. Her challenge to walk in radical gratitude, observing and recording every blessing around me — big, small and even ugly beautiful — increased my hope, deepened my faith and restored my joy at a time I really needed it! If you didn’t catch that video, you can watch it here.
Today, I am sharing another video about two tools our family has employed to deepen 
our understanding and practice of praise at Thanksgiving time. The first is a simple, handmade journal I created with the help of the amazing women at WOW — Women for Oppressed Women. I encourage you to visit their site to see how you might get one of their beautiful journals for yourself or a loved one. One hundred percent of the proceeds are used to provide life and livelihood to poor and oppressed women, children and families around the globe. The second is a wonderful book by Barbara Rainey called Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember. Ms. Rainey creatively divides the book into two formats — one for children and the other for adults — right within the book’s narrative! We have loved reading the children’s version of this book during our Thanksgiving dinners as a way to learn and reflect on the meaning and purpose of this national holiday.
You can check out the latest video by clicking here. And please stay tuned for the remainder of the month, because our entire ministry team will be sharing their own practices of thanksgiving and praise each week, and I know their thoughts and ideas will bless you! And friend, I am sure you have great ideas, as well, and we would love to learn about them! So, please share your comments with us, either here on our blog, or on our social media pages. In the meantime, have a thankful day, sublime and free above the fray!
— Linda R. Maynard (c) November 5, 2021