With so much political hype and many unknowns this year, many of us are finding ourselves in a tug of war with friends, family and ourselves. Rather than inundating ourselves in the craziness, we should all ‘step back’ and truly think about all the things we are thankful for, rather than all the things we detest. If this sounds like you, than join the “30 Days of Thanksgiving.” These 30 Days will help you focus on personal reflections, while also adding in a bit of Christian scripture. Every day from now until Thanksgiving, we will learn to appreciate, respect, and find the abundance of joy in our lives. There are so many things we all should be thankful for, yet we never take the time to notice.

On Day One, let’s begin our thanksgiving reflection with our family. As Christians, we have a guidebook to follow, as do most religions. Here are a few biblical verses to help you begin your reflection. What does the bible say about how you should treat your family; or how you should raise your family? How can you better incorporate these teachings into your everyday life? And finally, in what ways are you thankful for your family? How have they helped you become the person, you are today?

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. –

Exodus 20:12

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. –

Proverbs 22:6

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. –

1 Timothy 5:8

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. –

Ephesians 5:25

We love because he first loved us. –

1 John 4:19

As we reflect on these five teachings, we learn how we should treat our family and how we should expect to be treated in return. As family members, we all have responsibilities to one another, and we should live by these laws. How should we act as parents, as children or as spouses? How should we treat our extended family?

Whether you were raised by an alcoholic dad, a single mom or a two-parent household, we all have something to be thankful for. Maybe you made mistakes as a parent, and you would like to make amends, then take this time to make that call and say you’re sorry. Today, just reflect on how you implement these family laws into your everyday life, and think about the ways you can thank your family.

A mom always loves a phone call from her child, a child always welcomes praise from his parent, a husband always enjoys ‘alone’ time with his wife, and our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins always enjoy a visit (and as Sebastian Maniscalo would say, don’t forget the Entenmann’s).

Sometimes just being there, as an attentive parent, a supportive sister or helpful son can make an impactful difference to a family member. Today, Day 1 – reflect on your life, God’s teachings and be thankful for your family, In what ways can you show them that your care?

Subscribe to this page to join the Personal 30-Day Challenge! Follow the Facebook page too! Lots of tips and fun ideas. https://www.facebook.com/TheRoad2Happiness