About the Author

Holley Gerth is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, counselor, and life coach. Her newest release is The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. She's also wife to Mark, Mom to Lovelle, and Nana to Eula and Clem.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Holley,
    Gratitude, truly, is a game-changer. This Thanksgiving will not look like what I was expecting and hoping for, but I still have so many blessings for which I am grateful. Thank you for the invitation to “flip the script” on 2020 and attach a blessing to every painful emotion we can name. Have a peace-filled Thanksgiving…
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Bev, how have you been? My daughter wants to write letters , the other daughter is still not speaking to me , are your adult kids speaking its a hard time of year

      • Hi Maria,
        Praise that your one daughter wants to write letters – that is progress! My son has stopped by my corner where I am a crossing guard and he is genuinely happy to see me – praise! He still won’t commit to coming over to the house and spending any length of time, but it’s a start. I’ve reached out several times to my daughter and absolutely nothing…yes, the holidays are hard. Lifting you in prayer sweet friend. Thanks for thinking of me!
        Blessings,
        Bev xo

  2. Sweet Holly! I can’t count the times your words have been exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you for at least eight years of devotions.
    With faith,
    Priscilla

  3. Holly, your words means so much in this time of so much loss and confusion. I have very little family left and I don’t hear from them often. They are busy with trying to hold on amidst distance learning, working and keeping their family safe. I am so grateful for my husband who loves me, the terrific friends God has blessed us with, and the fur babies who have loved and purred away my sadness at being stuck at home for so long.

  4. The list of heartaches from this pandemic just gets longer and longer. From watching my children get laid off from jobs, to my forced retirement, to seeing lines of people needing food, to not being able to go to my church does get to me some days but I have always tried to focus on gratitude. And as a retired school counselor, it was always my focus to teach others the value of being grateful. And in spite of my not being the biggest technology fan, since the virus caused us to isolate, I am so very grateful that even though I haven’t seen my son and his family since last Christmas, and will not be able to fly out to see them until this pandemic is under control, I get to see their shining faces via zoom and speak with them on the phone more than we ever have. And even though I can’t be indoors with my daughter to share a meal, we can hike together and share a meal at a picnic table at a local park. Before the virus came around, mom was not on the radar as much. So I thank God for these little blessings.

  5. Holley,

    These last two or so years have been emotion filled for me. My FIl was diagnosed with stage III bladder cancer in 2018. He passed Monday before Thanksgiving last year. This Wednesday marks the 1 year anniversary of his death. This year we’ve all felt a ton of loss. Last Thursday a good preacher friend (FIL’s preacher) died from Covid. I had two patients in my unit (ICU Step down) on hospice died also. A young 9 yr old girl was shot in drive by shooting last Tuesday. So much death & dying that the holidays aren’t “wonderful” for me anymore. I’m kind of sad that we can’t have a nice Christmas service at church or go caroling to nursing homes. You are spot on about gratitude. Instead of looking at others & seeing what you don’t have-one can list ALL the many things you do have like a great hubby, good jobs, Home in Heaven & freedom. We need to change our perspective & turn our eyes upon Jesus & His love for us.

    Blessings 🙂

  6. Holley, this is a great post! I’m going to do this exercise! There will just be 3 of us at our Thanksgiving celebration this year: my husband, our oldest daughter and me. Our daughter is cooking! It will be quiet but sweet. And we’ll FaceTime with the rest of the family.

  7. My daughter is estranged due to her boyfriend not liking me he blocks my # on her phone which she agrees with as long as she is with him i may never see her again i hoped for so much

  8. Wonderful, lots of great motivational ideas. Uppermost the theme God has got us, shines through.
    Thank you Holly for sharing.

  9. Thank you so much for putting into words what I am feeling so deeply. Such deep feelings of loss, loneliness, grief, hopelessness, and thank you for reminding us that God cares about all of these things.

  10. Gratitude impacts us in so many positive ways. These days, we can even cite research proving its benefits. No wonder Paul told us to give thanks in everything!

  11. Thanks especially around the holidays when so many are in grief over loss of touch with others because of Covid or the loss of loved ones we need to remember that if we believe God will help us through the hard times I know He is always with me and will never leave me

  12. Thank you Holley, for putting in words the struggle I am dealing with. Complex issues with aging parents & I , basically alone ( siblings can’t or don’t want) to help. I feel the heavy burden each day. Yet, Christ says to me, come all who are weary and burdened & I ( the King of Kings, the creator of Heaven & Earth, the God who sees you) will give YOU rest! Thank you for the reminders that Jesus cares& understands. He is my Hope & Peace. And that my battle belongs to Him….. as He is fighting for Me & for my parents! Thank you Lord that your LOVE endures forever!!

  13. Thank you for this. It has been a breath of fresh air for me to help name the disappointment/ feelings that have controlled my thoughts for many years every Thanksgiving and Christmas. I can positvely respond and not let them gain hold of my thoughts any more.
    Looking forward to writing on both sides of the leaves this year. Our thanksgiving is small as well, just three of us, but much to be thankful for!

  14. Hello everyone.
    I love this web site.
    Christmas like so many of you is a difficult time for me.
    I still cry and hurt on the big day
    I hope that it will be different this year and if it’s not by Gods grace l shall prevail once again.
    I wonder if they even think about us during this time
    Mmmmm?
    I pray there are testimonies of reconciliation amongst us..
    Let us Surrendered our Hopes and fears onto the one who cares for us.
    Who walks with us daily.
    I declare we shall not be overwhelmed.
    What ever happens let us look to God for the strength and grace we need sustain us.
    Emmanuel…..
    God with us

    I

  15. Christmas won’t be the same this year but I’m thankful for my husband & that we’re both well & we’ll be able to Skype with our kids hopefully. God is good!
    Thanks Holly for your new book about introverts . I’m getting a lot out of it!

  16. The practice of gratitude is a life saver and a live enhancer. Eight years ago I survived a life threatening injury. I was so grateful to be alive I started to carry a small two by three inch journal in my purse. Each time I had a special experience I made a note in my journal. It could be a special person I met on the street or in a restaurant. It could be the beauty of a cloud filled sky, a gold and orange sunset or the way the leaves of a tree fall in a perfusion of color on a fall day. A phone call from a friend or relative. Whatever touched my heart and made me feel grateful was written in my books. Today there are fourteen books filled with lines of gratitude. I revisit the old ones from time to time and my gratitude is renewed once more with each line that I had written.
    Blessings of peace, Jay