Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – November, 2026, Pastor Lloyd Pulley
As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us will gather around tables filled with food, family, and familiar traditions. It’s a season that invites us to consider a simple question: What am I thankful for?
Who are we kidding? 2026 has brought its share of challenges—economic uncertainty, health struggles, marital difficulties, and broken families. For many, gratitude may not come easily. Yet amid life's difficulties, there's one truth we can all hold on to: You were created by God for a purpose. Your life has meaning, and your circumstances don't change that.
Gratitude doesn't mean ignoring life's hardships or pretending everything is perfect. Rather, it changes our perspective, helping us recognize blessings we might otherwise overlook—a friend who checks in, a kindness received, or simply another day of life.
Thankfulness shifts our attention from what we lack to what we've been given. And when gratitude becomes a daily habit, it transforms how we see our lives and those around us.
But gratitude also raises a deeper question: Who are we thanking?
For me, thanksgiving ultimately points to God, the Giver of every good gift. The Bible says, “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!” (Psalm 107:1). His goodness is revealed most clearly through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who trust in Him.
This Thanksgiving, count your blessings, but above all, remember the One who created you, loves you, and has a purpose for your life. There is no greater reason to give thanks.