Thanksgiving Everyday #74

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday for family gatherings and delicious food.  (I’m especially fond of pumpkin pie!) It’s also a time when we count our blessings.  However, the Bible tells us that we should be thankful every day even when bad things happen. 

This week on Finish Strong, we will inspire you to live your life with a daily attitude of gratitude.  You’ll discover the transforming power of a thankful heart and mind.  Several studies suggest that grateful people have better relationships.  They also feel better physically and emotionally.  They tend to focus on what they have and not on what they don’t. 

Join us for this podcast and we will give you practical ways to infuse more gratitude into your life.  Listen and discover the joy of celebrating Thanksgiving every day!

Transcript

Dan Wheeler: 0:02

It's hard to believe that it's late in November, that means Thanksgiving is upon us. And our thoughts will turn to Turkey mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. At least that's where my head seems to go when I hear the word Thanksgiving. That's the holiday. And it should be more than just a holiday. It should be our attitude every day. Thanksgiving in our hearts. For the Lord. We're thankful for you here at finish strong. Thanks for joining us. I'm Dan Wheeler, Brian Rowland and Terry Steen is here we are your co hosts and John Matarazzo is the man at the controls. Making sure everything is technically sound. You know, guys, if you have God in your heart, you are filled with thanks. And then Thanksgiving becomes more than a holiday becomes really a way of life year round.

Brian Roland: 0:59

That's good. I like It's true, though. Think about it. If you're not thankful. You're bitter. And we know where that goes. It's like, it's like the frown burden, you know, the smile to the throne. It's like, wow, yeah. It's got to have gratitude and be thankful.

Dan Wheeler: 1:18

Well, I know Terry's thankful that at least he has three friends who are right here with him. And we're thankful for you, Terry,

Terry Steen: 1:24

thank you. Thank you. Somebody is feeling better already.

Dan Wheeler: 1:28

If you knew to finish strong, you know that sometimes we pick on Terry, because he picks on us all the time.

Terry Steen: 1:35

Yes, exactly.

Dan Wheeler: 1:38

Derek, can you think of a memorable thanksgiving for you one that was?

Terry Steen: 1:43

Yeah, I really can. It was a number of years ago. And it was very unique. And of course, you know, thanksgiving for all of us probably tends to be around family. And that's kind of the first thing we think of the love of family. One year my mom was just adamant that my wife and I and our family come up for this Thanksgiving. And I had a couple of brothers. Most of them were up there. I was away. There was a few family members around and she was insistent. So we made the extra effort came up to Iowa which was you know, a long haul and made the effort to all have Thanksgiving together. Great time. Everybody made it. And we're all telling our crazy old stories of growing up that everyone's heard 50 times. But we love telling them anyhow, and I just see Brian,

Dan Wheeler: 2:37

I've heard him 100 times.

Terry Steen: 2:41

So I'm seeing my mom just sitting back taking it all in. She was very just loving every minute of it. And it was still kind of it was a fun time. But yet I still couldn't figure out why she was so insistent. And then that was in November. And in January, she was diagnosed with leukemia. And I just feel like she knew that something was coming. She may have known and knew this might be her last Thanksgiving. And sure enough, she passed away that next month in February. But while you were so grateful that we were able to have that family time together, and she was able to see her family having fun together for one last time.

Dan Wheeler: 3:30

But a great one. Brian, how about you?

Brian Roland: 3:33

Yeah, well I choose how you talk to the other. Tears. That's it. There are Thanksgivings. There's a couple of things that happened during Thanksgiving, that now it's all tied around family. But I remember growing up as a kid that we would always go to my manliness house. Mostly my influences house, and our Thanksgivings, started with lasagna ravioli. Pasta you could think of and then came the turkey and the ham and the sweet potatoes and all that.

Dan Wheeler: 4:10

So you had a light appetizer.

Brian Roland: 4:13

And when we're finished with all that, we're stuck, the guys would go into the living room, start watching football. The ladies took everything in the kitchen, we're putting it away in that. And then they brought out all this meat cut up for sandwiches. And that was next that's like an hour two hours later. So then after the sandwiches that would all go and all the pies would come out and I'm going oh my gosh, no wonder I am sighs I am today. But it was it was just amazing. But that's how we started were Italian family and I mentioned it to girl the other day, who's Italian down here. We were talking and she said what? How was your Thanksgiving? So they said well, one other kid I told her that she was That's amazing. That's exactly what mine was like she was her parents were from Italy, which was started the same way it always starts with the pasta.

Dan Wheeler: 4:57

My goodness. I always wondered why To show our thanks we just ate as much as we could possibly eat. It's a little desperate. Yeah, I have two very memorable Thanksgivings. And one was not a pleasant memory. But that was the first Thanksgiving right after Beth had died, not even a month before. And we had it at my daughter's in laws, and they left they thought it would be a nice gesture to leave an empty place sitting at the table and honor above Well, it may have it was a nice gesture, but it tore me up I couldn't even look at it was just horrible. It was unlike any other Thanksgiving I'd ever had. And I was just filled with guilt and distrust and sadness. But then the other most memorable was the next Thanksgiving because while I missed her, I realize that I was a little better. And then I was able to say thank you and and thank the Lord for her life. And all the Thanksgivings we had together so interesting. Those are probably the two most memorable Thanksgivings. And then of course, every Thanksgiving since then has gotten better.

Brian Roland: 6:09

And that Thanksgiving then that was Brooks first Thanksgiving with you to

Dan Wheeler: 6:13

know she wasn't born till the next September. This was right after Oh, yeah, that's right. Oh, the next Thanksgiving. Yes, you're right. Brooke had been born September 21. Good memory, Brian. And so we did have, you know, something extra to be thankful for? Yeah, it was like, God was saying, here's the circle of life. I'm still with you guys. Really need but you know, this Thanksgiving is going to be special for one guy. Our producers John Matarazzo. Oh, yeah. John, why don't you tell us why this one's especially pertinent when we're talking about great Thanksgivings?

John Matarazzo: 6:50

Well, first off, I am grateful to be able to replace my favorite Thanksgiving this year. Because you know, in the in the standings, because the previous one was, there was a situation at my previous job that got resolved right before Thanksgiving, and that person was no longer there. And so I was very grateful for that. As God has took somebody out of my life years ago, God has brought somebody into my life for this Thanksgiving. And this year, I have my fiancee joining me, we're flying up to Pittsburgh to have Thanksgiving with my family. And it's going to be very, very special for a lot of reasons. So and then we'll be getting married before the end of the year. Wow, let's

Dan Wheeler: 7:41

we finally did it. Not Have your parents. Have they met her?

John Matarazzo: 7:48

Yes, yeah, my family. They actually came to visit me here in Orlando. Last month, so this would have been in the beginning of October, actually, they're my parents birthdays are the ninth and the 10th of October. So they came down to kind of celebrate their birthday. And so we took vacation time, but my my girlfriend, Val was able to spend a good bit of time with us. And my parents really liked her. And she really likes them. And my sister likes her too. So that's, that's a good thing. That's great. Everybody's excited for our upcoming nuptials.

Brian Roland: 8:25

Yeah,

Dan Wheeler: 8:25

well, it's good. You know, the Bible tells us that we should Enter his gates with thanksgiving in our hearts in his courts with praise. So throughout the Bible, we're told to be thankful. And in everything, give thanks. And while we do it, Thanksgiving time, we shouldn't be doing it all through the year. And you know, Terry, there are several benefits when you look at everything. Being thankful helps you to come out on top in so many areas.

Terry Steen: 8:54

It really does. And I guess logically, why would we think otherwise, if the Bible tells us to do something, there has to be good reason for it. You know, it says in First Thessalonians 518 to give thanks in all circumstances, because that's God's will. So when we do that, the byproduct is things like it opens the doors to more relationships, you know, as you're a thankful person and a grateful person that kind of opens up your personality to be more friendly and more open to people you meet more people. They want to be around someone who's a grateful thankful person and not always down in the Molly grubs. So the rub? Yeah, Molly grubs, you know,

Dan Wheeler: 9:43

oh, I never seen no plan. Oh, I see. But you know, that does make sense. If you're happy, you're grateful. Other people want to be around you. And I think that makes so much sense to me that you're more open to relationships.

Terry Steen: 9:57

And as I mentioned the physical side of it because Studies show that you sleep better, you're healthier, you have fewer aches and pains literally impacts headaches and stomach problems, the more grateful you are. So it has a lot of impact on you.

Brian Roland: 10:13

You started to stay study shows, and I thought, well, that's what I had written down your study shows. That's your reading. But mine says it practicing gratitude can lead to more intimate and connected relationships, less depression, more motivation and engagement and better overall mental well being.

Dan Wheeler: 10:30

That makes sense. I mean, you know, you can carry around envy and strife and resentment, frustration and regret, but not when you're thankful, right, Brian, you're so busy being thankful and counting your blessings, you don't have time for those other emotions,

Brian Roland: 10:46

you don't. And you shouldn't, then how many of us in our families, or know families that have siblings in that, that are at each other all the time, and they're not speaking to each other, they're cut off from each other. And there's a hatred that goes there, and there's a wall. And it shouldn't be like that. It should be gratitude should be happy to be with your brother or your sister at all times. And knowing that the Lord has given you charge over them as a given charge over you. I mean, we all look for you take care of each other, especially in our family. And I think that's really what how it should be. That's what family is supposed to be supposed to have complete family. And that's what you do as a family circle.

Dan Wheeler: 11:25

I think when you're thankful you look at the glass as half full, not half empty, you tend to look at the positive side of things. And there's a lot of studies that show a link between gratitude and well being. According to Robert Emmons, a Brian, I know you looked into this.

Brian Roland: 11:45

I did. And I found that from Dr. Gail salts, she's a psychoanalyst, and all kinds of places there she is where she's doctoring. And I just didn't write them all down. But what I want to ask her gratitude is good for your health. She said, people who spend more time experiencing gratitude seem to spend less time experiencing aches and pains and going to doctors, they also report more feelings of physical and mental well being.

Dan Wheeler: 12:11

Wow. Well, I want some of that. Yeah, exactly. Thankful. We're so we're talking about studies. But you know, a lot of this is common sense. And as Terry said, we're commanded by God in the Bible, to be thankful. There's a reason, there's a reason. He said, Jesus said, I'm calm that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly in John 10. And, you know, being grateful leads to that more abundant life. I mean, study in 2011, that was published in Applied Psychology even showed that grateful people sleep better. So I think it's a great idea. You know, I tend to check Well, last night, I was checking the results of the elections and all this and I looked at my news app. But a better idea before you go to bed, instead of getting worked up is to be thankful and write down your blessings. Can you imagine if we all wrote down at the end of the day, the good things that happened to us that day, and what we're thankful

Terry Steen: 13:09

for, what a reflection on the day, and yeah, how could you not, but sleep better, because you're going to be more joyful, you're going to be happier about the results of the day. And like you said earlier, you're shifting your focus to the positive things of the day, and trying to put the bad things behind you. So when you can wake up in the morning, it's a new day, it's a fresh start. And you don't have to keep those on the the top of your list.

Brian Roland: 13:35

And you know what you said them, I never thought of journaling before you go to bed writing down what you're thankful for. I tried to go through my mind what I've done this day and when I'm thankful for, but Dr. Salts actually, and said people who practice gratitude right before bedtime, that she says by listing those things they feel grateful for report better sleep, because what you just said, this is likely because gratitude diminishes anxiety and stressful feelings, allowing a more restful and relaxed entry to sleep. So I got my pen here and my paper and I know what I'm doing tonight. Okay, but just

Dan Wheeler: 14:08

to put that pen and paper on your pillow. Yep. And before you hit that fill off, write it down. Try it again know, a study in 2014 in the Journal of Sports Psychology said that gratitude reset reduces social comparison in this struck me because I think a lot of unhappy people are always comparing themselves to others and saying, Well, they have a bigger car, they have a new house and they have more money in the bank and why do I have that and I deserve that and everything becomes me, me, me, me. And then they that's all they focus on. But my daughter Kiersten whenever I go and stay with him out South Dakota, the bathroom that Cole and I share in the basement, she has a big sign in there and I love it. It says being grateful for what we have, makes what we have enough. And I just love that every time I read that I think that is so true. True. Yeah, just be grateful.

Terry Steen: 15:02

Yeah, I was just gonna say and you know, you look at society today, you look at the millennials, you look at the younger people that are really into social media. And we hear over and over again, how depressed they are, how sad they are increased suicide, because of exactly what you're talking about. And it's it's tragic that they allow that comparison game to impact their self esteem so much. It's just terrible. Yeah,

Brian Roland: 15:34

I think a lot of people want it handed to him or to do. I remember where I was working at a place that college kid came in from USC. And he was there and there was just like, he just he was doing his own thing. And he decided that he wanted a corner office because one of the our VPS, that just left, Tejas goes, and he just gets in there and takes over this office. And I was like, Excuse me, what are you doing? You know, well, I liked this office. Well, yeah, but you got to earn it. That's your office, you get out there in the pool with the rest of the people, you know. So it's just interesting how the minds are thinking today of these young, the new generation.

Terry Steen: 16:11

Yeah, you know, it's so important. And we should take some time as we're talking about this to talk about things that we should be grateful for. You know, it says, I was reading in Psalm 107. The word of Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, his love endures forever, amen. And that if we don't give thanks, or aren't grateful for anything else, it should be for God's presence, and for his power, because the Scripture doesn't root the gratitude in our circumstances, because our circumstances change. And that's why the Bible says to be thankful in all circumstances, but we give thanks for God's character, we give thanks for his love for us, because that doesn't change. His character doesn't change. So when we're thankful for God, and for his character, and his presence is power. That's where it all starts. And everything else comes so much easier, doesn't it? Sure

Brian Roland: 17:09

does. And I'll tell you, David, had so many things to say that sets us in the right direction. Over in Psalm 1032. He said, Let all that I am praise the Lord, may I never forget the good things he does for me. He was reminding himself that to all the good things that God does for him. Once you forget that things happen, things change, but when you should remember that, then God goes before you. And you let him go before you only do

Dan Wheeler: 17:37

Yeah, yeah, that reminds me of verse Give thanks to the Lord for His good His love endures forever right there. That should make us the happiest people in the world. So grateful that's found in First Chronicles 1634. So yeah, Terry, a lot of the people in your life all our material blessings, and and there's so much more. What about the bad things that happen to us? Yeah, it

Terry Steen: 18:00

was gonna say it's really easy it Thanksgiving, we always think about the people, we always think about the material blessings, because of all that food you mentioned at the top of the podcast. But yet at the same time, if we're being true to Scripture, we need to be thankful for the challenges, the trials, the persecutions that come our way, because that grows us that matures as we just talked about that in our last week's podcast, and it hasn't changed.

Dan Wheeler: 18:30

I often think where would I be if I didn't know the Lord? So I'm grateful for salvation. I mean, when I look at what's going on in the world, and I look at people that don't have God in their life, they don't have that relationship. And I feel bad for them because I'm, I feel like they have no one to turn to. We always have God, the Creator of the Universe. Sometimes I'm praying and I have to stop. Thank, Lord, I can't believe you're listening to me that you care about. Little tiny me, but we're all important in a site.

Terry Steen: 19:03

You said little and tiny.

Dan Wheeler: 19:09

I told you we were hoping one of his jokes. Although he obviously thinks is funny, and Brian, stop laughing. Just encourage him. Laughter is not the heart. It is. Well Brian, do you have more things that we can be grateful for how we can be more grateful?

Brian Roland: 19:28

Well, I'll tell you that one more scripture verse I want to share with you as Colossians 315 and says, Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you are called to peace and be thankful. And as members of one body, that means we're all members of Christ, that we we've known our life to him, he's taken us so we're all in him. And we're to be thankful. And that gives us peace, knowing that we've given our life over and that he's in control. And especially this time of year with Thanksgiving coming, it's nice to know and be able to say that thank you, Lord, for taking my burdens upon you. Thank you for taking my sin upon you. Right, thank you for giving me all the blessings that you give me. Right.

Terry Steen: 20:15

So try think about a couple other things that when I think about how to be more grateful, and one is to appreciate the small things, too many times we sit and look at the big things, but if we look every day at the small things that are done for us, and by us and around us, that helps me be more grateful. And then helping others when you quit thinking about yourself and start looking at other people. That's another great way to just increase your your gratefulness.

Dan Wheeler: 20:46

Yeah, I'm gonna bring our producer in one more time, John, I'm gonna put you on the spot a little bit. Because we just talked about being thankful for trials and when things don't work out, right. And I know that you had a relationship not terribly long ago, that didn't work out. And you were really sad and down. And we prayed for you. And I think you've got testimony that sometimes when God takes away something, he has something better.

John Matarazzo: 21:14

Yes, he absolutely does. And it's hard to see that in the moment and realize that, but I'm grateful for the time that I had in between these that relationship in this one, because I was able to see things with God's eyes towards that situation. And I saw that we wouldn't have been a good fit. There's, there was enough things that were different. That, you know, I'm very thankful that God broke that relationship. I say that on purpose that God was the one that that broke that it wasn't it. I mean, she was the one that ended it. But God was the one that was protecting me and protecting her. Now I found out recently that she's married, which is wonderful, that's great. I'm happy for him. We never were we never were upset with each other. We've just like, got this, we don't have our fit together. And then I went through a season where I felt very dry and very like, I am not grateful for the situation that I'm in. I'm you know, I was very frustrated. But God called me to a season of prayer and fasting, an extended season of prayer and fasting, actually two times in this year, once in January, and then once again in July. And interestingly enough, that one in July, there was during that time that my future wife and I, we connected and actually it was through a mutual friend, I didn't know that we had a mutual friend. What's interesting, I'll tell you the brief story I know taken a little bit, a little bit more time. But I had seen Val's profile on a dating app a couple different times, but just we just never connected, okay. And then she was somebody that I was like, you could see the love of the Lord on her profile, you could see just her jovial personality, just this infectious smile. And I was interested in her from the moment that I saw her, but they're just she wasn't just connecting with me. And then during this time of prayer and fasting in July, God sends a friend. And we hadn't seen each other in a while. And he said, I just hear the name Val, Val Val. And he said, I need to connect you with fel. I'm like I said this girl and I pulled up a picture of her profile. And he said, I think that is her and I said I would absolutely be interested in that. And it was because through that, oh, that's that it led to us actually connecting. And it turned out that she had seen my messages but ignored them because she had so many other guys trying to get to her. And she just was like, I can't take this anymore. And through that. Yeah.

Dan Wheeler: 23:47

Well, so well. Thanks, John. I feel I feel like that's for someone that's out there needing boots today. Maybe, maybe you feel like things just haven't worked out. Maybe it's romantically maybe it's on the job, whatever it is. God has something better. When he takes something away. He always does. It reminds me of a TV show that Brian Terry and I remember but I'm sure you don't, John, unless you've seen it on reruns both called Father Knows Best. Certainly does. So how can we finish strong with attitude with gratitude guys? What are some real things we can do? Well, we

Terry Steen: 24:23

have to be happy for others. We have to be content with what we have. We've talked about that how important that is. Yeah, that's good. Being happy for others, too.

Dan Wheeler: 24:32

Sometimes. That's hard, Brian, isn't it when we see somebody that maybe has something that we've wanted?

Brian Roland: 24:37

Yeah, but you know, it's only for a season or for a bit. If that if that's happened to you? I know if it's happened to me, I go afterwards, like, you know, okay, I didn't need that anyways, or it's just something I want to read that time and it's nothing, no big deal. So,

Dan Wheeler: 24:51

let it go. Right. And remember, above all, you are special to God. He has a plan for you your life. And you can simply ask God into your life by saying, Lord, I'm a sinner. I've I've not kept your commandments. I've strayed from what my conscious has told me to do at times my conscience, and I want to ask your forgiveness and I want to ask you into my heart, and I want to truly be thankful every day for the rest of my life. So thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. In thy name, amen. Yeah, we used to sing that song. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you for making me whole. Thank you, Lord for giving to me. It's a great salvation so rich and free. That we are thankful to him. And we are thankful to you for joining us for this edition of finish strong God bless him.

John Matarazzo: 25:51

Thank you for listening to finish strong. For more information about finished strong and fearless faith. Check out their website F faith.org. Make sure that you rate and review this podcast to help more people accomplish their God given purpose so that together we can finish strong