On a 45-minute bus ride full of conference attendees, people stared. I filled the time with big belly-laughter and a Texas-style, heel-kicking good time. The passengers pretended not to stare, but I saw their glances. Then a woman across the bus turned and peered Ziggy-like above the chair. From her seat she stretched her neck then over the riders and noise pronounced, “You ladies are sure having a good time. What’s so funny?”

Truth was, nothing. Not one thing was that funny. We were just having a grand time. Renae, my fast-forming BFF, and I snickered, giggled and laughed until my face hurt and my sides ached. It was like being a teenager again. Our fun seemed to make many the bus riders take interest.

I wondered what caused the attraction. The only thing I can think of was my overwhelming sense of gratefulness. I was thankful for the opportunity to attend the conference and spend time with Renae. My husband encouraged me to attend and my family tightened where my absence created slack. I felt blessed and filled with gratitude. It was those thankful thoughts that made me happy.

Giving thanks pours a huge measure of contentedness into our lives. It’s not content in the circumstances, but content above them. Let’s face it, a 45-minute over-stuffed bus ride with twice as many smelly feet as people on board isn’t the most welcome circumstance. But I was so thankful that even if it was a trailer ride pulled by a tractor in the freezing weather, I’d have been happy. Cold…but happy.

If only thankful thoughts dominated my everyday thinking, I’d be the most obnoxiously happy person. But food preparations, dirty laundry and tight schedules don’t exactly generate feelings of gratefulness. The daily grind traps me. To keep from being stressed, I’ve got to be thankful for the dailyness: food to prepare, clothes to wear, and chores to bear.

If placing my attitude on thankfulness doesn’t change my circumstances, it sure changes me. My gratitude turns into happiness, because thankful thoughts makes a happy heart. I want a joy-filled-bus-ride experience everyday, not just on Thanksgiving Day.
Let’s laugh and sing our thanksgiving. Others may stare or want to join.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4).

Thought: There are lots of Christmas songs. Please share some Thanksgiving songs that we might sing our thanks?

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(*Image courtesy of sxc.hu)