Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends! On this favorite American holiday I want to express to you how very thankful I am for your continued support and participation at Dressed for My Day. You are truly a blessing to me, and I thank the Lord for you frequently. In fact, that’s the real beauty of gratitude isn’t it? Gratitude blooms into something that others can witness, benefit from and enjoy when we express it openly and frequently. Otherwise it’s just a warm fuzzy feeling that soothes our own hearts but does little more. Let’s talk for just a few minutes about the beauty of gratitude expressed.
By the way, the photos in today’s post, as always, were taken by my talented photographer-husband, James. He’s turned into quite the landscape and wildlife photographer in recent years. And I am grateful beyond words for his contribution to this blog and my YouTube channel. I’ll share in the captions where each photo was taken.
Gratitude is just an attitude. We feel grateful. And sometimes we even choose to be grateful, despite our circumstances. But as long as we only feel grateful and do not express that appreciation to the appropriate person or entity, we’ve not really communicated gratitude. It may warm our hearts, but it hasn’t brightened another person’s day or confirmed to them that we’ve noticed their love or service or attention.
We tend to assume the other person knows we feel gratitude towards them. But, conversely, the other person cannot really know for sure that we do feel grateful unless we express it openly. And that’s why, when our appreciation is not expressed, people often assume we are not grateful. So, you see, it’s not just nice to say, “thank you.” It’s actually imperative to healthy, happy and thriving relationships.
When we express our gratitude openly, with words and enthusiasm, we unleash all manner of good things. Suddenly the other person’s faulty assumptions are put to rest and any tension that has built up between us begins to ebb. Now the other person or group feels all the more compelled to do more, give more, be more. Gratitude expressed motivates people to keep showing up, whereas unexpressed gratitude causes people to question their contribution, their effectiveness, their value. It even causes them to shut down and give up.
I’ve noticed that when I pause to say thank you to someone who has served well or been faithful or given their all, that person often blossoms in front of my very eyes. Where before they appeared tired or withdrawn or resolved or underwhelmed, suddenly they brighten, stand taller, speak with a lilt in their voice and exude more energy. Gratitude felt but not expressed cannot do that. But appreciation wrapped in gracious words and heartfelt praise moves people powerfully.
And of course there’s a boomerang effect, too. When we sing someone’s praises and tell them thank you, even if it was inconvenient or hard for some reason, we soon feel lifted by their response. We think that gratitude warms our hearts sufficiently, but gratitude expressed unleashes a magical warmth that draws us into a deeper and sweeter relationship with the other person. Suddenly we realize that expressing our thanks openly and verbally is so much more satisfying than just warming ourselves by the emotional embers of an attitude of gratitude.
Interestingly, I’ve discovered that a similar phenomenon occurs when we express our appreciation to God. Indeed, unlike the people in our lives, He does know if we are grateful or not. He does not need us to express our gratitude to Him. And yet, He commands it.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Why is it imperative to thank the Lord for all He does for us? If He already knows how we feel, do we really have to speak aloud or write down our thanksgivings? Technically, no. But, just like when we pause to thank another person for their activity in our life, expressing gratitude to God does something in us, not just for Him.
It lifts our gaze, changes our perspective, boosts our energy, reignites our dreams and goals and sets us back on the right path. Just as importantly, it also humbles us. Thanking God for my blessings reminds me that I am not responsible for my own good fortune. Indeed, every good and perfect good comes from above.
As I thank God for what He has done in the past or is accomplishing in my life in the present, I’m filled with hope. Recounting His faithfulness in the past confirms for me that He will be trustworthy in the future. Acknowledging how much He has loved me through the years or months or days, assures me that He loves me right now and will love me just as much in the future. His perfect love casts out my fears and insecurities, so I’m infused with courage and a sense of purpose and renewed hope.
So yes, it is good to give thanks to God. An attitude of gratitude may warm our hearts. But gratitude expressed to God may just unleash more power, more joy, more victory in life.
Today as we gather to give thanks for our many blessings, may you remember the beauty of gratitude expressed. Look your loved ones in their eyes and tell them how grateful you are to have them in your life. Speak a blessing over them. And then voice to the good Lord above your thanks for all He has done. And take note of how beautiful it is to express your gratitude rather than simply keeping it to yourself.
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Blessed for My Day
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ~ Psalm 100:4
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. ~ Psalm 136:1
I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:4
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Absolutely beautifully said and so true. And what gorgeous photography!!! My favorite is the Taughannock Falls picture. I love all the stone staircases in the foreground and the ribbon thin falls in the background. Beautiful! Thank you for all you do at this blog and thank you for sharing your husband’s incredible photography. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Beautiful post and wonderfully written. James is indeed a very talented photographer. I really appreciate what you do and the kind way you do it. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Beautiful! Thank YOU! 🙏❤️🙏
Your husband has captured such natural beauty and some unusual creative views too! I especially love the Door Wisconsin pics and the Acadia Maine captures too!
Hi Kay,
I thank you for this lovely post, Kay! It’s certainly one of your best! I hope that you will continue to write similar inspirational words for your readers. They help us see the world in a different way, to be more understanding and tolerant. That’s a good thing!
Your husband’s photography is really outstanding! He is quite talented, and I hope you will share more of his nature photos more often!
Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving. What a beautiful post. Thank you Kay for all your hard work, guidance and inspiration. Many thanks also to James, for his amazing photography and for all the hard work he does behind the scenes, and thanks also to your assistants for their hard work too. You all do a great job and it’s so appreciated. Have a wonderful time with your family.
Thoughts, scriptures, and photos are all beautiful and inspire much praise to God!! Thank you, Kay and James!!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Such beautiful words and pictures! God bless you and your family and Happy Thanksgiving! Grateful for you!
Your post today is a prayer. It reached me and gave me peace and hope. Your husband’s photos are stunningly beautiful. Thank you both for sharing your beauty with us.
Thank you Kay 🙏. That was exactly what I needed to hear today. It’s been a long and difficult few years and I lost both my mom and my dad unexpectedly in the last year and a half, my dad being last month. I woke up with an attitude this morning , but gratitude was not it. Thank you for shifting my mindset to a better place with your calming, grateful and peaceful words connecting me back to God.
God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving
I’m so sorry for your losses. I know they feel compounded during these holidays. I pray you experience peace and healing today and in the coming months. Bless you.
Yes, we all have things to be thankful for. We all go through trials and tribulations, but Jesus is always with us. We should all be grateful. Thank you for this beautiful post and the photography is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Thank you Kay and James, for the beauty you’ve shared today in words and photos. My blessings are bountiful and you’re included in the list! May God bless you and your family today and always. Happy Thanksgiving .
Your lovely words and your husband’s gorgeous pictures warm my heart this Thanksgiving morning. I thank God for every sunrise and day that I’m given. Let us all express our thanks to the Lord and the people we encounter thru the days so that we may lift others up as well as ourselves. May God bless you and Pastor James. Thank you for the beauty and inspiration you provide.
Happy Thanksgiving ❤️Thank you for sharing the beautiful post and James,
break taking photographs.
And thank YOU, Kay, for providing a fun way of looking at fashion and style and encouraging us to look and be our best. You have a great sense of humor and a way of connecting with people. Also kudos to James for his gorgeous photos! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Thank you Kay. So much wisdom and truth in this lovely post. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Your husband’s photographs are wonderful. He is talented.
Beautiful words and pictures!
Beautiful post and beautiful pictures! Thank you, Kay, for all you do each day to keep me feeling current and stylish! I appreciate you!
Thank you for sharing the beautiful and amazing photos of nature. And I really love how you draw us back to the Scripture. Blessings.
Wonderful words and fabulous photos – thank you for going beyond your usual subject matter to discuss gratitude on the day we set aside for thanking God!
Beautiful heartfelt photographs, beautiful heartfelt sentiments. Bless you and your husband for your gratitude.
Wow oh Wow these photos are Amazing…..James really has a talent here! Absolutely Beautuful…..The Lord has truly Blessed us in so many ways and are very Thankful for everything he has done for me. Philippians 3, 5-6
Thank you Kay, not just for this lovely and inspiring post, but for your daily posts. I always enjoy your daily spiritual lessons. I’ve followed you from the beginning as this was the attraction for me.
The beauty in James photography has enhanced your written words and fashion choices. God put together a perfect team.
Tell James his pictures were gorgeous and your words were inspirational. Happy Thanksgiving!
What a timely reminder to express our gratitude to God and to others. Thank you Kay for helping us keep our look modern as we age but more importantly thank you for always pointing us to God. Having a personal relationship with Him and allowing Him to guide us is what makes us truly beautiful women.
Beautiful post Kay. I’m reading it on Friday. I didn’t read blogs yesterday. I appreciate you for your devotional messages and fashion advice. I appreciate it that on Thanksgiving you focused on gratitude towards God instead of trying to sell something like other bloggers.
I forgot to add that the photos your husband took are beautiful.
Lovely post and beautiful pictures!
Thanks So Much Kay for the Beautiful words on Expressing Gratitude and for your husband’s Lovely Nature Photography!!! All So Inspiring Indeed!!! I echo other comments by Thanking you for All that you do for your audience as it Truly is Appreciated and your rippling effect inspiring and helping others I believe continues immeasurably! So Many Thanks Again!!!
Thank you for sharing such lovely, meaningful thoughts! Being thankful helps us in so many ways!
I wonder if you have other Jewish followers and admirers like myself? This was a beautiful blog post. Your husband is so talented. Those photos are magnificent. And your message was a very touching and moving one. Merry Christmas!
Ahh, I’m not sure. But I love that. Thanks so much for sharing.
Kay, I hope you are still reading comments from this post. I set it aside to read after things calmed down after Thanksgiving. I am thankful for family gatherings over Thanksgiving and I’m thankful for the rest afterwards.
I’m thankful for your inner beauty post they are always inspiring. And thank you for sharing these awesome,beautiful pictures that James took.
I am most thankful for the gifts from God, The Father.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts of gratitude. 🥰