Who are you grateful for?

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends celebrating it in the U.S. and around the world! I’m so thankful for you. I really appreciate your prayers and loving feedback. Writing these inspirational emails takes a lot of time sitting alone in front of a fireplace or at a coffee shop. It’s definitely a labor of love because I can’t see your faces or hear your voices. Positive feedback is so important to all of us. 

friend, I’m sure that you love to be with people who celebrate you and that they love your words of thanks and appreciation. Paul the Apostle had a great habit of giving thanks to God for people: “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:16, NIV) 

I learned this lesson again this week. I decided to attend a John Maxwell event in Hawaii with a close friend from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The event was celebrating the 20th anniversary of the EQUIP Leadership movement. I had to be there to honor John and his amazing team. I’ve had the privilege of being a small part of training leaders in France, India, Switzerland, and Germany with John’s curriculum. 

God is so good. He uses people like you and me to add value to others, to reach the lost, and train them to change the world. I had two significant purposes during those few days: to give thanks to God for my mentor, John Maxwell, and to spend time with my buddy from Pittsburgh. 

I admit I arrived at the venue tired and a little beaten up by my critics and the stress of leading several organizations. Then everything changed when I was introduced to Gary and Nikki, an incredible couple who have had a tremendous career together in real estate. They read A Miracle Every Day together as a devotional, and they wanted to thank me for my writings. Wow! The dark cloud that was trying to crush me was swept away by thanksgiving. 

friend, I’m not sure what you are going through, but could you take a moment and give thanks for the people you love and appreciate? It will lift your spirits and reset the course of your day and week. Because you are a miracle, and so are Gary and Nikki. Shout out to them!