⭐ Give Thanks!

A Holiday Reflection by Lauretta Scott

The holiday season is quickly approaching — in fact, it’s already upon us — and it’s time to gather, celebrate, and embrace the warmth that comes from being with family and friends. I absolutely love this time of the year. Honestly, if I could stretch these days across the whole calendar, I would.

There is nothing like the joy of watching twinkling lights glow against a home’s stone and siding… hearing Christmas music pour through the speakers — whether classic or modern — it all carries the same feeling of warmth, comfort, and cheer.

And don’t get me started on the holiday treats — cookies, candy, kettle popcorn, sweet desserts — all while watching those classic holiday movies that shaped our childhood:

• It’s a Wonderful Life

• Miracle on 34th Street

• A Charlie Brown Christmas

• A Christmas Carol

As a child, I watched many of these nestled close to my mother. She made Christmas beautiful for me. Christmas morning felt magical — not because of the gifts, but because of the love behind them.

One year, she somehow bought everything on my list: a Baby Alive Doll, an Easy Bake Oven, coloring books, pencils — she sacrificed so much just to make me smile.

But beyond the gifts, she taught me the heart of these holidays:

Family.

Faith.

Gratitude.

Togetherness.

Jesus.

These values shaped the way I raised my own boys — celebrating Christmas and Thanksgiving with joy, reverence, and gratitude.

🌨️

A Hard Year — A Needed Reminder

Let’s be honest… 2025 has been one of the most challenging years our nation has ever faced.

Financial strain.

Emotional fatigue.

Government shutdowns.

Communities shaken.

Families stretched thin.

And yet, in the middle of it all, these holidays whisper a gentle truth:

We STILL have reasons to give thanks.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are not about how many gifts are under the tree.

They’re not about the money we spend or the meals we cook.

They are about honoring:

• God

• Family

• Friends

• Community

• Life

• Grace

Maybe — just maybe — God is shifting our focus this year.

Maybe this season is calling us back to the basics:

Back to unity.

Back to love.

Back to community.

Back to forgiveness.

Back to the reason we celebrate in the first place.

Maybe the tightness in our finances isn’t punishment… maybe it’s positioning.

Positioning us to spend time instead of money.

To reconnect instead of rush.

To embrace gratitude instead of stress.

🌟

Why We Should Be Thankful This Holiday Season

The holiday season has a way of slowing life down just enough for us to breathe, reflect, and remember what truly matters. Even in a world full of challenges, uncertainty, and unexpected detours, there are powerful reasons to pause and give thanks:

1️⃣ We’re Still Here

Life hasn’t been easy, but God has carried us through every storm. The simple gift of being alive, breathing, and seeing another day is a blessing many did not receive.

2️⃣ God’s Protection Has Kept Us

Seen and unseen, God has shielded us from dangers, heartbreaks, and setbacks designed to destroy us. His covering alone deserves our gratitude.

3️⃣ Family, Love, and Community

Whether your circle is large or small, someone loves you and someone cares. Relationships are priceless blessings.

4️⃣ Provision in All Seasons

Even when it felt tight, God still made a way — food on the table, transportation, shelter, and resources that came right on time.

5️⃣ The Gift of Grace and Mercy

We are far from perfect, yet God continues to pour out compassion and forgiveness — fresh every morning.

6️⃣ Growth Through Hard Times

Every trial this year developed you, matured you, and prepared you for what’s coming. Pain produces purpose.

7️⃣ Moments of Joy, Big and Small

The warm hug, the shared meal, the laughter of children — God gives us joy in small doses every day.

8️⃣ New Opportunities Ahead

The year may be ending, but God is not done.

The best is yet to come.

9️⃣ The Blessing of Faith

In a world full of uncertainty, we have an anchor — JESUS.

His presence is the greatest gift of all.

🍁

Closing Thought: Choose Gratitude

The holidays are not about perfection — they’re about presence.

Not about spending — but about spiritual meaning.

Not about quantity — but about quality.

Not about gifts — but about gratitude.

This year, pause long enough to whisper,

“Thank You, Lord.”

For life.

For love.

For breath.

For grace.

For hope.

For Him.

✍️

Author Bio

Lauretta Scott, founder of iPublishub-Books and iCaringHands Mobile Phlebotomy Service, writes faith-filled inspiration that brings healing, hope, and spiritual restoration to readers around the world. Through storytelling, devotionals, and transparent life testimony, Lauretta reminds us of God’s unchanging love and the power of resilience.