And just like that, it’s November. Amazing how that happens, isn’t it?

Though I feel like I am just getting started with my pumpkin bread intake.

Fall is in full force here in the DMV (D.C./ Maryland/ & Virginia). And, it is my wife’s favorite time of year.

When we first started dating, my family was eager to hear all about her after every time we spent together. I remember one of my answers, ‘Well, she loves Autumn, America, and Jesus.” From that moment on, I think we all knew she was “the one.”

Every year, it is easy to find new reasons to be thankful for her.

November gives us two occasions to pause and give thanks. On Veterans Day, we honor those who have served in uniform defending our nation. At Thanksgiving, many of us gather around a table, return to family traditions, and remember what we have been given.

Those moments matter. But gratitude is more than a holiday or a tradition. It is a perspective to prioritize.

Psalm 103 begins with a call to the soul: remember the goodness of God. The psalmist names God’s compassion, forgiveness, healing, and faithful love. He does not treat these blessings as small or automatic. He remembers them because it is easy to forget.

Psalm 103:1, “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.”

That can happen to us, too. The demands of service, family responsibilities, financial pressure, illness, or loss can fill our focus. We may look so closely on what is difficult that we stop noticing the good still present: a friend who checks in, a meal shared, strength for one more day, or the chance to come home safely.

Gratitude does not mean pretending life is easy. It does not ask us to ignore grief or deny what needs to change. Gratitude transforms our perspective more than our circumstances. It helps us see that hardship is real, and that hardship will not define our whole story.

For service members, Veterans Day can bring pride and a deep sense of connection. It can also bring complicated memories, the absence of friends, or the weight of experiences that are hard to explain. We can honor service honestly while making room for all those feelings. A word of thanks, a listening ear, and the willingness to remember someone’s name can make the day more meaningful than a ceremony alone.

Family traditions can help us remember, too. (I’ll surely participate in my traditional post-meal nap during football games!)

Perhaps your family says a prayer before dinner, shares a favorite story, or makes the same side dishes each year. Traditions give us a chance to notice the people around us and to pass gratitude along to the next generation. If the table is smaller this year, or the gathering looks different than you hoped, you can still make room for a moment of thanks.

It is important to note that many of God’s provisions arrive without fanfare. We may look for the dramatic answer and overlook the daily gifts: a clear morning, work worth doing, a conversation that brings comfort, or the patience to take the next step. Remembering those gifts does not make every problem disappear. It reminds us that God is present in ordinary days as well as extraordinary ones.

This month, try a simple practice. At the end of each day, name at least one thing you are grateful for. It doesn’t need to be impressive.

Then consider whether there is someone you can thank, encourage, or remember in a practical way. Over time, this practice can train our attention to see goodness alongside difficulty.

Psalm 103 calls us to remember God’s character and care.

As November brings its observances and gatherings, may we pause long enough to see the blessings that routine can hide, and share that gratitude with the people around us.

For my part, I’m thankful for my wife, son, and family, for autumn in the DMV, for traditions, and for the daily provisions God gives.

And to conclude, I’m thankful for pumpkin bread as I mentioned earlier.

My first job was a cashier at Publix in Merritt Island, and I still remember their pumpkin bread loaf with buttercream icing.

So, while I’m grateful to be here in the DMV, I do miss that particular blessing. If you’re near a Publix this fall, have a slice for me, and don’t skimp on the icing. I’ll share in that thanksgiving.