Hello, Friends!
Today, it’s on. The table is set, and family and friends will gather for a feast. Good food, games, laughter, and shared memories will fill the air as we reflect on all the years gone by. For some, this is a season of celebration and abundance, but for others, it’s a time of heaviness and heartache—a year marked by the valleys of life. If you find yourself in that hard place, know that you are not alone.
Last year we sat with our guests, we gave thanks for the hard places we find ourselves in. Not necessarily for the trials, but in them. There’s a powerful truth in the Bible: “Give thanks to the Lord in all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). It’s not a call to rejoice for the pain, but rather to recognize that even in the midst of difficulty, there is room for gratitude.
The difference between in and for matters deeply. For looks for purpose, an explanation, a reason. But in acknowledging our position—our place within the circumstance—while still trusting in the goodness of God, even when it’s not immediately visible. It’s a surrender, a resting in the assurance that, as Romans 8:28 reminds us, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
When we choose gratitude in all things, we’re reminded that life’s valleys and challenges are not destinations. They are part of a journey. We are moving through them, and they can become stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks. This perspective doesn’t deny the pain but embraces hope—hope that blessings and growth can emerge even from seasons of struggle.
So as we gather this Thanksgiving, my encouragement is this: renew your mind with these truths. Hold joy close, and let it fill the moments you spend with loved ones. Savor the laughter, the warmth, and the opportunity to be present. There is beauty in pausing to acknowledge what is good, even amidst what is hard. We can surrender our worries to a purpose greater than what we see right now.
This Thanksgiving, let’s choose joy. Let’s choose gratitude in all things, trusting that God is working in every circumstance to shape us and to bring about His purposes. I hope you’ll find moments to rise above the obstacles and settle into the deep joy that comes from gratitude and trust.
Wishing you peace and joy this Thanksgiving and beyond.
With a grateful heart,
Rachael Jones Locovore Farm