MANY churches and schools celebrate harvest at this time of year.

It is also the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles, the third of a series of annual harvests traditional to the faith.

Harvest is a great opportunity, whatever your faith, to say thank you for all the good things around us.

If you’ve been to a church or school service, you’ll doubtless have sung “all good gifts around us are sent from heaven above; then thank the Lord O thank the Lord for all His love”.

Even if you don’t believe in a Creator God, you cannot have failed to appreciate the glory of an autumn morning sun, the wonder and variety of nature or the beauty of the night sky.

Living as we do in the affluent (and, yes, I do mean affluent!) West, we get to enjoy many things that others only dream of.

So how about saying thank you a little more often?

To the person who serves you in the shop or supermarket. To the bus or train driver who takes you into town.

To the teacher who shows you so many possibilities in the world. To the friend who gives you a lift.

To the neighbour who is always there when a helping hand is needed.

To your spouse, parent, family member for their love and belief in you.

Consider this – grateful people are always happy, even when they have nothing.

Ungrateful people are always miserable, even when they have everything.

And even if you don’t share my faith in the God who made us, forgive me if I take just the following line to thank Him.

Thank you God! – JOHN.