Happy Thanksgiving!

In this Thanksgiving episode, it’s time to slow down, breathe deeply, and reflect on the true meaning of gratitude. Through faith-filled encouragement and gentle reminders, you’ll rediscover how a thankful heart can transform your home, your table, and your daily life. Pour a warm cup of tea, pull up a chair, and let’s celebrate the beauty of a faith-filled, grateful, and simple life.

Transcript

Episode 191 – Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome back to Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. I’m so grateful you’re here today.

As we gather around this virtual back porch, I want to take a moment to slow down, breathe deeply, and simply reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving — not just as a holiday, but as a way of life.

Because in a world that often moves too fast, that’s exactly what our hearts need — a reminder to pause and truly see the blessings God has placed before us.

This time of year, the air turns crisp, the leaves crunch beneath our feet, and our homes fill with the scent of cinnamon, cloves, and roasting turkey. But more than that, November brings with it an invitation — a call to gratitude.

Psalm 107:1 reminds us, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”

And isn’t that really what Thanksgiving is all about? Yes, it’s a day filled with family, food, and tradition, but it’s also a posture of the heart. A moment to look beyond what’s missing, and instead, lift our eyes to the One who has provided everything we truly need.

Living a simple life naturally draws us back to this place — to gratitude. Because simplicity often isn’t about less for the sake of less — it’s about more of what matters most. More time with family. More meaningful traditions. More appreciation for the small blessings we might otherwise overlook.

If you’re anything like me, you know life doesn’t always go as planned. The year may have had its share of storms — times when faith felt stretched thin or when the noise of life threatened to crowd out joy.

But even in those moments, gratitude reminds us of God’s steady hand. Sometimes we have to look a little closer to see His fingerprints — in the smile of a friend, a warm cup of tea, the golden light streaming across a quiet kitchen, or the laughter that fills a room when family gathers.

These are all reminders that God is near.

Integrating faith into our simple life isn’t about grand gestures or complicated rituals. It’s often about quiet moments — whispering “thank You” before the day begins, pausing before a meal to acknowledge the Provider, or reflecting in the evening on the day’s blessings, no matter how small.

Because when we slow down enough to see, we begin to notice that gratitude and faith walk hand in hand.

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are preparing our homes — polishing silver, baking pies, setting the table. And as we do, let’s remember that the table is more than just a place to serve a meal. It’s a sacred gathering space.

Every chair around your table holds a story. Every dish — whether it’s homemade or store-bought — represents nourishment and care. Every conversation shared reminds us that community and connection are gifts from God.

So this year, before the first bite is taken, take a moment to look around your table. See the faces, the hands folded in prayer, the smiles, even the empty chairs that hold memories. Thank God for it all — the joy, the love, and even the bittersweet moments that shape our families and our faith.

Your table — no matter how simple — is holy ground when it’s filled with gratitude.

One of the best ways we can live out our faith in a simple life is to carry Thanksgiving into every day, not just the fourth Thursday of November.

Gratitude doesn’t need a fancy calendar square to be expressed. It can show up in how we speak to others, how we serve our community, or how we treat ourselves with gentleness and grace.

Here are a few simple ways to cultivate a thankful heart all year long:

1. Start and end your day with gratitude. Each morning, thank God for the gift of a new day. Each evening, reflect on three blessings — big or small — that you noticed.
2. Write it down. Keep a gratitude journal or even a simple list on the fridge. Seeing your blessings written out is a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness.
3. Speak it out loud. Don’t let gratitude stay silent. Tell someone how much you appreciate them. Express thanks for small acts of kindness.
4. Serve others. Gratitude grows when it’s shared. Bake bread for a neighbor, send a note to a friend, volunteer in your community. Simple acts become seeds of joy in someone else’s life.

Faith is active — and when we live with thankful hearts, we reflect God’s love in a tangible way.

Maybe this year looks a little different. Maybe the table is smaller, or the faces around it have changed. Maybe there’s been loss or unexpected change.

If that’s where you are, friend, know this: God is still near. His love is unchanging, and His blessings — though sometimes quiet — are still abundant.

In the simplicity of a meal shared, a candle lit, a prayer whispered, or a walk through fallen leaves, He meets us there.

Thanksgiving isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence. About pausing long enough to see the beauty right where we are.

Before I go, I want to leave you with a simple Thanksgiving blessing:

May your home be filled with laughter, your heart with peace, and your table with good things.
 May gratitude be the song you sing, and may your faith remind you that every good and perfect gift is from above.
 And as you step into this season, may you carry with you the quiet joy that comes from living simply, walking faithfully, and giving thanks always.

From my back porch to yours — Happy Thanksgiving!