Gratitude is a key to a rich life. Paul said "Give Thanks in everything." (I Thes 5:17) Why? Because thankfulness molds the soul. It brings perspective, it infects people around you. It keeps you from becoming self-absorbed. It makes you increasingly generous and less selfish . Gratitude is critical to acheiving life in all it's fullness.

I am going to list out things I am grateful for...not just the typical things you say at the Thanksgiving table (health, family, turkey) but the other stuff...the stuff that brings joy but often times goes forgotten:

I am thankful for:

• Asiago cheese bagels at Panera
• A working heater in my car
• Butterflies
• Leather chairs
• The smell of chocolate-chip cookies
• Mike Kimmons' exuberant worship style
• Logic
• Things that defy logic
• Hugs from Josiah before I go to work
• The sound of a Harley
• Google, Bible Gateway, and Mapquest
• Air Travel that connects me to cool places in the world
• Health Insurance
• Haiven's little laugh, especially when it is loud and in public
• Tooth-whitening strips
• Jean Bishop, Lottie Krogh, and others who have been faithful to CCC for over 7 decades
• Hope for eternity
• Nose hair clippers
• The Fighting Illini's recordbreaking turnaround, 9-3 record and defeat of the #1 team in the nation!
• Grace when I mess up, and more grace
• A wife who stuck with me for over 17 years
• My dentist...really...when I think of life without dental work...I am grateful
• A library full of books that connect me to the best thinkers in the world
• Jesus
• Friends that hang Christmas lights with me on the Saturday after Thanksgiving
• Yappy little Schnauzer dogs
• The sounds of kids learning to play piano
• Garage Door openers on rainy days
• The opportunity to make a little difference in the lives of people around me...

Happy Thanksgiving all! Make it real...by being truly thankful...