When Gratitude Feels Hard: A Thanksgiving Reflection 🍁

Hello friend 😊

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite times of the year. The smell of a warm kitchen, the sound of laughter from loved ones, and the opportunity to slow down and reflect on all the blessings in our lives—it’s such a special season. But if I’m being honest, there have been a few Thanksgivings in my life when I didn’t feel like celebrating. Maybe you’ve had those years too—the ones where life felt heavy, and the idea of “giving thanks” seemed like an impossible task.

I remember one Thanksgiving not too long ago when everything felt like it was falling apart. I was in a season of deep struggle, barely holding it together, and the thought of sitting around a table, pretending everything was okay, felt overwhelming. I didn’t want to cook, I didn’t want to see people, and I definitely didn’t feel like counting my blessings.

But in that season, God gently reminded me that gratitude isn’t about ignoring the hard things—it’s about finding Him in the midst of them. I came across 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” At first, those words stung. All circumstances? Even the hard ones? But over time, I realized that this verse wasn’t asking me to be thankful for the struggle—it was inviting me to be thankful in it.

That year, my Thanksgiving looked a little different. It wasn’t perfect or picture-worthy, but I found small ways to shift my focus. I thanked God for the breath in my lungs, for the few people who were walking alongside me, and for His promise that He would never leave me. I clung to verses like Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

If this Thanksgiving feels hard for you, know that it’s okay to feel that way. You don’t have to force joy or pretend the hard stuff doesn’t exist. But I want to encourage you to look for the small glimpses of God’s goodness. Maybe it’s in a kind word from a friend, the beauty of a sunset, or the comfort of His Word. Even in the hardest seasons, His faithfulness remains, and there’s always something—no matter how small—that reminds us He’s with us.

So this year, let’s give ourselves grace. Let’s let go of the idea of a perfect Thanksgiving and instead focus on what really matters—finding God’s love and provision, even in the messy, difficult places.

Wishing you peace and hope this Thanksgiving 🤍
Kimberly