Volume XXII, Number 47 (Issue 1156) November 24, 2025
Gratitude
This time yesterday I had no clue what I was going to write about this week. I should explain that earlier in the week I settled on and began working on an initial draft devoted to the Peter Principle. I selected that topic based upon a series of recent client conversations – which is often a source for these clearly random essays. Yet the deeper I got into that subject, the more I realized it was not a topic for the start of Thanksgiving week. So, I set that partial draft aside and began looking for something else. Unfortunately, I was coming up dry until Sunday morning when, during my devotional period, I came across the word gravitas in the book, Countdown 1960, by Chris Wallace and Mitch Weiss.
Why I am reading that particular book as part of my devotional period can wait until another day, but needless to say I thought I had found a worthy topic. That is, until I verified the definition at which point I concluded it was less than seasonally appropriate. But then, in an instant, g-r-a-v-i-t-a-s morphed into g-r-a-t-i-t-u-d-e. I think you will agree expressing thanks is definitely more appropriate for today. So, here goes…
Grati-tude (n) the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Needless to say, there is a lengthy list of things I am grateful for – far too many to catalog here, plus if I tried to list them all I would undoubtedly leave some key ones out. So, I will focus on the blessings that are top of mind today. In no set order I am thankful for: my family, my health, my career, friends, the Holy Spirit (more about that in a moment), my faith, our clients and my coworkers past and present, the freedoms we enjoy, the ability to serve, rain, nature’s beauty, the food on our table, leisure, laughter, the teachers and mentors I have had, the opportunity to pay it forward, and the gift of pets including their ability to show us/teach us unconditional love. I am also appreciative of the numerous challenges that have come my way for they have helped stretch and shape me. I could go on but I am sure you get my drift, i.e., I am incredibly blessed. Far more than I deserve.
Now, as for my earlier reference to the Holy Spirit. I firmly believe doors open and close all the time. I also know we have free will, enabling us to choose our path. Fortunately, I have found the Holy Spirit to be an active presence that tries to guide me whenever I am open and paying attention. I will admit, I can be a little slow sometimes. I can also be more than a bit impatient not to mention oblivious to the message – though of late I am finding inspiration comes my way routinely.
But that is me. What about you? What are you grateful for this holiday season? I would love to hear what you have to say.
PS. I am very grateful for you, my readers, and I am extremely appreciative of those of you who find time and reason to write. In that vein, thanks to all who wrote to me in response to last week’s issue. Your kindness and kind words about preferring my version of the message over the clinical one composed by ChatGPT made my day, week, month… If you will permit me, you are awesome.
Soli Deo Gloria
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;” John 14:16
J. Keith Hughey
Mobile: (210) 260-0955
E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
Website: www.jkeithhughey.com
Transforming Potential into Unmatched Performance
Copyright 2025 by J. Keith Hughey. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction and redistribution of this essay as provided under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Recent issues of Musings may be found at www.jkeithhughey.com. Your comments are always welcome.