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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me to be thankful all the time, long after Thanksgiving! Amen.

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars when the world is going to end," Jesus said. "When you see those signs, know that I am coming back. And remember me all the time, because if you forget, I might come back when you don't expect me."

This week is Thanksgiving. You may have already seen family or gotten ready to eat with people. Thanksgiving isn't about gifts; it's about being grateful for what's important in our lives -- but even that can get lost in the bustle of having a big meal or starting Christmas shopping.

Remembering to be thankful for things like safety, people, food and love seems pretty simple. We're all supposed to pray every day and stay close to God, anyway, right? We shouldn't even need a special holiday to remind us to give thanks!

This week's Gospel (Luke 21:25-28,34-36) points out that we do forget important things -- even God and giving thanks. Jesus talks about the end of the world, when He'll come back. That probably won't happen for a long time, but Jesus' point is that we should always be ready.

Jesus is hoping He won't just hear from people when we want something. He wants to have a connection with us all the time - to be so close that, if the world ended tomorrow, we'd be all set to go to heaven.

Thanksgiving is one day each year when most people remember to be grateful for food, family and fun. But whether you're eating a big meal with lots of people or taking a minute for a quiet prayer of thanks by yourself, it's good to remind yourself to make gratitude a year-round habit.

Be ready for Jesus, whenever He arrives -- and be grateful all the time. Even when Thanksgiving is over, there's always something to be thankful for![[In-content Ad]]

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