What are your holiday traditions? Do you make crafts with your kids and decorate the house? Do you take a trip to visit family? Or maybe you host everybody and spend hours preparing a special meal. I’ve got 12 grandkids so I know these traditions can be fun, building memories and helping us focus on all the blessings of life.

But sometimes, especially as adults, it’s difficult to list what we are thankful for. If you’re struggling this Thanksgiving, I want to encourage you. You don’t have to be outwardly smiling all the time to be celebrating this Thanksgiving with gratitude. I understand how that can feel. Two years ago, I was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. I was given months to live and I truly didn’t think I’d be alive today to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family here on earth this year. Some days the update from the doctor is encouraging, and some days I’m honestly amazed I wake up in the morning. But I understand that some days can be hard for you, and being thankful isn’t always easy.

A heart of gratitude means more than just saying “thank you.” It means believing God is who He says He is. Believing that He is good. That God is love. That He is on our side – protecting us, blessing us, and comforting us even on the hardest of days in this fallen world.       

This is Luis Palau.