Gratitude on the Rocks: Solid Ground for the Soul

A Thanksgiving Reflection: Feeding the Soul With Gratitude Special thanks to Tom Huber and Pastor Aaron Lauer for being the inspiration that sparked these thoughts.

On this day of thanks, I’m reminded that gratitude is more than a polite gesture—it’s nourishment. A quiet meal for the soul. When we pause long enough to see the extraordinary inside the ordinary, we feed something deep within ourselves. And in doing so, we soften the world around us.

Today, I give thanks for the support of friends and family— for they are the dreams of the lonely, the ones who remind us we belong.

I give thanks for the security of having a home— for it is the dream of the homeless, a shelter where peace can take off its shoes and stay awhile.

I give thanks for the food that fills my belly each day— for it is the dream of those who go hungry, proof that care can be served one plate at a time.

I give thanks for my health— for it is the dream of the sick, a gift we rarely notice until it falters.

I give thanks for meaningful work throughout my life— for it is the dream of the unemployed, a chance to contribute, to matter, to stand tall.

I give thanks for the freedoms I still get to enjoy— for they are the dreams of those who must live without them, reminding me never to take simplicity or safety for granted.

I give thanks for the laughter in my life— for it is the dream of those who carry heavy sorrows, a reminder of how healing joy can be.

I give thanks for moments of rest— for they are the dreams of the overworked, small sanctuaries that help us breathe again.

I give thanks for second chances— for they are the dreams of those living with regret, proof that grace still has work to do in this world.

And above all, I give thanks for the ability to notice these things— for awareness itself is a blessing, a quiet teacher that keeps the heart open.

May our gratitude today be more than words. May it be a practice. A posture. A way of feeding our own souls so we can help feed others.

And may it remind us that empathy, like gratitude, is best served in small, steady pours—on the rocks of daily life—where it cools our burdens, softens our edges, and refreshes the spirit of community we share.

Happy Thanksgiving.