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As my husband, son, daughter and I walked out into the parking lot, they were a couple of steps ahead of me.

I watched as each of them laughed and talked about nothing much in particular. It was a moment of being content — of being thankful for these wonderful people that God wove together into a family so many years ago.

These three people have shaped who I am as our lives intertwine daily. My kids are at such an age where I learn as much from them as they have learned from me.

My husband gives of himself daily so his family can have the best possible life. He is my best friend and the one that I have built a life with all these many years. Our children, now adults, add to that joy.

Though there are many blessings in my life for granted, I do not take them for granted. To me, thankfulness is not just saying the words “thank you,” but more an attitude of gratitude.

The word, gratitude, defined as a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation seems to denote a deeper expression of praise more than words can convey.

To “give thanks” is sacrificial. It is giving away a part of ourselves in appreciation for what has been done for us and those around us. It is an offering of our heart to God as we express our gratitude.

I feel gratitude for the home that we have, however humble it may be.

It is a roof over our heads when the cold rain falls. It is walls surrounding our bodies when the blustery winds blow strong. It is a place to lay our head at night when we are tired from a day of work and play. It is a safe place to be when the rest of the world seems to be fighting against us.

I am thankful for food in our pantry and cabinets — overflowing at times from all the couponing that I have done.

Even as times have been lean, my family has always had God’s provision in one way or another for a meal or the creativity to find a meal out of whatever is still there.

There is appreciation in my heart for the warm water to take a bath and to wash our dishes. I am grateful for just having water at all that runs through pipes and the tap directly where I need it each day.

Water to keep us hydrated daily is not taken for granted as we know there are others in this world that do not have access to the creature comforts we have here.

Right now, as I am writing, I can hear the washing machine and dryer run. Neither would be necessary without the blessing of clothes to wear or sheets and blankets to wrap ourselves in that get dirty through daily use.

I am grateful for the technology that makes this chore simpler than my grandmother and those before her had it.

This Thanksgiving season, a song of praise to God will rise up from our hearts as we sacrificially give thanks to our Lord Jesus for everything he has done for us.

He has seen to all of our needs in His time and way including making a way for us to know Him through his son Jesus Christ.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. As members of one body you were called to peace. Be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Linda Vestal is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend living in Gibsonville. Contact her with comments or story ideas at lindavestal@triad.rr.com.