Thankfulness: A Superpower for Radiant Living
Oct 31, 2025 08:32AM ● By Bernice Butler
As we step into the Thanksgiving season, I’ve been asking myself: What does it really look
like to live thankfully—not occasionally or reactively, but as a steady, everyday rhythm?
A lifestyle. A spiritual posture. A way of moving through the world with open hands and
open eyes.
Our instruction manual, the Bible, teaches us, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Gratitude isn’t something we wait to feel; it is something we
choose. And when we choose gratitude—even when circumstances stretch us—we declare that
God is greater than whatever challenge stands before us. That daily practice becomes a source of
strength, joy and what I call radiant balance—a healthy alignment of spirit, mind and body.
Science now supports what Scripture has long revealed. Studies show that grateful people sleep
better, handle stress more effectively and experience healthier brain and immune function.
Gratitude renews energy from the inside out. It quiets the mental clutter that weighs us down and
strengthens the spiritual foundation that keeps us steady.
Humility is gratitude’s secret ingredient. It reminds us we are not the origin of every blessing or
breakthrough—God is. Humility helps us recognize every good gift, including those that first
arrived disguised as difficulty. When humility becomes our superpower, grace flows more easily,
judgment loosens its grip and love expands its reach. It keeps us grounded, a little lighter on our
feet and much harder to knock off balance.
I believe burnout cannot take root in a grateful heart. Burnout grows when we are drained—
striving, comparing and carrying burdens alone. Gratitude flips that script. It reminds us that God
is the source—of joy, provision, peace and the energy that sustains us. When we live thankfully, we live full.
In this issue, we explore healthy, balanced living fueled by that same life-giving principle of
sustaining what matters most. Our feature article, “Balancing Energy for Better Living,”
explores practical tools and spiritual insights that help us preserve vitality and stay aligned
with the way our Creator has lovingly designed our bodies to function. You’ll also find North
Texas–specific guidance to ensure your winter lawn rests well and springs back beautifully. We
take a closer look at vaping—its history, its harms and why our community must pay attention.
And Dr. Andrea Maddox brings timely whole-health wisdom for our dogs, offering ways to
support long, vibrant lives for our four-legged family members.
As this season unfolds, may we choose gratitude as a daily discipline:
• Thank God—morning and night
• Celebrate small delights
• Give grace quickly and joyfully
• Release what drains your spirit
• Nourish what builds peace
• Let love lead every room you enter
A grateful heart does not deny hardship—it simply sees blessing more clearly. Gratitude does not
ignore problems—it places them under the steady shadow of God’s faithfulness.
May this be a month of renewed strength, deep peace and thankfulness that fuels real, tangible
well-being—for you, for those you love and for the community we are all blessed to serve.
Blessings until next month,
Bernice Butler
Bernice Butler
