Black Friday is upon us. The irony never gets old; we give thanks and then we trample each other for deals at Best Buy. Yikes.

I hope that you all had an amazing Thanksgiving. I am in our nation’s capital, gallivanting around with the little brother acting as if we are adults. (In our defense, we did some baking yesterday.)

I’ll never get tired of Thanksgiving, of giving thanks, because gratitude never gets old – it is always different. We can always be grateful for new things. Each day brings new blessings and unexpected gifts. I love that Thanksgiving is a day of reflection, where we sit and eat a lot and ask each other, “What are you thankful for?” Being grateful is a walk down memory lane. It invites us to remember, but it also begs us to be present, and it encourages us to look ahead.

Last Thanksgiving I stayed in Denver. I spent Thanksgiving with my best friend and her family friends down in Colorado Springs. We had lots of fun. The way I imagine my life at that point is best described as a whirlwind of emotions, questions, and anxiety. I was in the interview process for the job that I now have (#win!), finishing my last semester of grad classes and hitting my head against a wall (also known as trying to finish a thesis). I was beyond stressed, because even the workload couldn’t compare to the stress of not knowing what was to come. God came through, in incredible ways. He provided a job, a place for me to live, and directed my path in such a clear way. He opened doors and led me to a place in life I never would’ve imagined.

It isn’t to say my life is absolutely perfect right now, but I am insanely grateful for where I am. I feel most days that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I am thankful for the people in my life, both near and far. I’m grateful for time off, days of rest and relaxation. I am thankful for a chance to spend time with my favorite younger brother. I am grateful that Christmas break is only a few weeks away and for the first time in WAY too many years all of us Garretts will be in the same house for the holiday.

These are the things we must stop and ponder. “Smell the roses.” Notice the beauty. Remember the good, and look forward to what is coming. Good is coming, always, more and more of it. Hard is coming too – but we learn to be grateful for it all, because it makes us who we are.

Rejoice, always. Practice gratitude, every moment. Seek JOY, even when it seems impossible. Love well. Speak peace. Sacrifice for others. Lay down your pride in exchange for growth. Be thankful for all the blessings in this life. Love you friends.

And watch my friend-crush Ann speak the TRUTH about it here: “Known by Our Gratitude.”