Many of us have gathered around a Thanksgiving table where each person has been asked to share something he or she is thankful for. Quick answers like “family,” “my job,” or “this meal” may give away that folks are anxious to start eating! But giving thanks—at any season of the year—is something so important that it should get our full attention.

A heart overflowing in gratitude re-introduces God into the picture. Isn’t He, after all, the One to whom we are grateful? We are not self-made. Who we are and what we have is not the result of our own achievement. When we give thanks, we recognize God’s generosity to us. By taking our eyes off our own problems and onto the blessings we’ve received, we gain a better perspective on life.

Be thankful in all circumstances. It helps us to not take things for granted. Soon you’ll be thanking God for your eyesight, for the roof over your head, for the gas you pump into your car, for birds, for the adorable baby you saw at the store, and so on, and so on. The Lord is good, isn’t He?