Sandy Esprit

This Thanksgiving, I have to admit — it doesn’t always feel like there’s a lot to be thankful for. Life isn’t exactly how I pictured it. I don’t have a career that generates consistent income yet, and I can see the wear and tear on my husband from his strenuous job. Still, he’s in the kitchen right now, cooking up our Thanksgiving dinner. And in that moment, I’m reminded of how much I have to be grateful for.

When I take a step back and really look at our life, I see blessings I once prayed for. For the past three years, our home has been spacious enough to host family events — birthdays, holidays, and everything in between. We have enough room for guests to stay over when they need to, and the comfort of knowing this is our home. We own it. That’s not something I take for granted.

Growing up, Thanksgiving was just another day off school. We didn’t celebrate. We didn’t host or visit anyone. We’d simply stay home and watch TV, while seeing other families gather around their tables with turkey and laughter.

Now, things are different. My children get to feel the excitement that comes with this season — knowing friends and family are coming over, hearing the sounds of laughter, smelling the food cooking, and feeling the warmth of love filling our home. And I get the joy of watching them experience that.

Each person who walks through our door is a gift. Every shared meal, every laugh, every prayer whispered together — it’s all a reminder of God’s goodness.

So yes, even when it doesn’t feel like there’s a lot to be thankful for, there truly is. Gratitude isn’t about having everything we want; it’s about recognizing the beauty in what we already have.

And this Thanksgiving, I’m choosing to see it.