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November 25, 2015

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 25:
Express gratitude to a friend who lives in a foreign country.

Years ago I had a pen pal in India. On lightweight powder-blue air-mail stationery, we would share our fifth-grade comings and goings from the other side of each other’s world. We grew weary of the long wait in between letters and drifted apart as “only-for-a-short-season” friends. But in 2015 I can literally do a real-time chat with my friend Bing in the Philippines; follow my friend Laura’s photos as she travels around Europe while living in Scotland; giggle with my friend Rosemary in England; pray with my friend Alice in Spain; share memories with my friend Laura K. in Bangladesh; or swap recipes with any number of friends scattered across the world.

And most importantly: I can stop to say, “Thank you,” because each deserves my gratitude for letting me see the world from her point of view.

Take time today to call or e-mail your friend who lives in a foreign country and say, “Thank you!” (Or you may wish to choose a missionary partner you pray for and want to encourage with your gratitude!)

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It’s never too late to intentionally begin 30 Days of Gratitude.
To download a free 30 Days of Gratitude Chart, click on the “Day 25″ photo above!
Click here to receive Brenda’s encouraging, faith-based posts directly in your Inbox.
By Petals from the Basket | November 25, 2015 | Friends, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

November 24, 2015

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 24:
Express gratitude to a medical professional who helps you in some way.

Oh sure, I’d been around doctors and hospitals now and then, but it wasn’t until being confronted with my father’s long-term illness (Parkinson’s disease) that I truly came to appreciate those medical professionals who have devoted their lives to helping others. But I also learned from my father’s example of gratitude during this time. No matter what service was performed for him or on him, he would look the caregiver in the eye and say, “Thank you.” They use their knowledge, training, strength, toughness, and compassion to walk us down the path to a cure or to make the way as comfortable as possible when there is no cure. And for this, they deserve our gratitude.

Take time today to send a card to a medical professional who has helped you in some way.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (3 John 2, NIV).
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It’s never too late to intentionally begin 30 Days of Gratitude.
To download a free 30 Days of Gratitude Chart, click on the “Day 24″ photo above!
Click here to receive Brenda’s encouraging, faith-based posts directly in your Inbox.
By Petals from the Basket | November 24, 2015 | Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

November 23, 2015

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 23:
Express gratitude to a manual laborer whose skills make your life easier.

Much to my embarrassment, I fulfill the stereotype of being a woman who knows nothing about cars. I chose my first car based solely on its color (light blue). And yes, I’m one of those people who walks into the service center and describes the “clang, clang, bop-bop-bop” sounds to the mechanic when describing why my car needs extra love from a professional. Because he or she is trained in that area and using those skills to make my life easier, I can later confidently drive away in a car that is working to its fullest potential. The same thing applies in so many other areas of my everyday life: my work, my day-to-day living made easier because others have honed their skills to make it happen. And for this, they deserve my gratitude.

Take time to e-mail or send a card to a manual laborer to thank that person for using his or her skills to make your life easier.

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly” (Romans 12:6–8, NLT).
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It’s never too late to intentionally begin 30 Days of Gratitude.
To download a free 30 Days of Gratitude Chart, click on the “Day 23″ photo above!
Click here to receive Brenda’s encouraging, faith-based posts directly in your Inbox.
By Petals from the Basket | November 23, 2015 | Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

November 22, 2015

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 22:
Express gratitude to a parent/guardian/parent-figure.

“The family should be a closely knit group. The home should be a self-contained shelter of security; a kind of school where life’s basic lessons are taught; and a kind of church where God is honored; a place where wholesome recreation and simple pleasures are enjoyed.” —Billy Graham

Take time to call, e-mail, send a card to, or buy a gift for the parent, guardian, or parent-figure you are choosing to honor with your gratitude today.

“My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 6:20, ESV).
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It’s never too late to intentionally begin 30 Days of Gratitude.
To download a free 30 Days of Gratitude Chart, click on the “Day 22″ photo above!
Click here to receive Brenda’s encouraging, faith-based posts directly in your Inbox.
By Petals from the Basket | November 22, 2015 | Family, Friends, Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |

November 21, 2015

30 Days of Gratitude – Day 21:
Express gratitude to an author whose work you enjoy reading.

With their words, they make us laugh, cry, hope, cringe, and imagine. They expose our deepest hurts and in so doing push us to greater heights. They encourage us to grow, to learn, to change, to dream. And they give us an ongoing gift of themselves through an article, a poem, a blog post, a book. And for this, they deserve our thanks.

Take time today to e-mail or send a card to an author whose work you enjoy reading.

“My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer” (Psalm 45:1, NIV).
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It’s never too late to intentionally begin 30 Days of Gratitude.
To download a free 30 Days of Gratitude Chart, click on the “Day 21” photo above!
Click here to receive Brenda’s encouraging, faith-based posts directly in your Inbox.
By Petals from the Basket | November 21, 2015 | Ideas, Thirty Days of Gratitude |