A Thanksgiving Reflection: Gratitude in the Work We Get to Do
Gratitude Is Hard (and That’s Okay)
Gratitude is a difficult thing for me. Maybe it’s difficult for most of us — or maybe that’s just the pessimist in me.
Every Thanksgiving, we’re given a rare opportunity to slow down, spend time with family or friends, and reflect on our lives. For some, that reflection is built into tradition — maybe you go around the table, each person naming something they’re thankful for. You smile, nod, and share your answer. Sometimes it’s genuine; other times it feels like going through the motions.
But fighting for gratitude matters deeply in our everyday lives. It’s easier said than done, but making space for it — not just once a year — keeps us grounded in our current reality. When we take time to notice where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we’re headed, gratitude anchors us in the middle of the noise.
Without that posture, it’s easy to get lost in the muck — the setbacks, the stress, the loneliness that creeps in when reflection is an afterthought.
And the same is true in our work.
Gratitude isn’t just personal — it’s cultural. If it’s not woven into the rhythm of your workplace, whether you serve on a church staff or work on an assembly line, the weight of daily responsibility can start to erode your joy. Gratitude lightens that load. It keeps perspective alive when pressure mounts.
Gratitude for the Clients Who Trust Us
With Gratitude as one of our core values at SBK, we’re deeply thankful for our clients and the relationships we get to build with them.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Trust is earned.” I believe that’s true — but I also believe distrust is earned. Every day, we have the opportunity to earn trust by how we show up and how we execute. But trust isn’t built only through performance — it’s built through presence.
We don’t just care about the numbers; we care about the people behind them. Our clients’ goals, challenges, and even their families matter to us. That’s what makes this work more than accounting — it’s partnership.
And while trust may need to be earned, we never forget that each new client begins by offering us something sacred: a measure of unearned trust. They believe we’ll handle their business with integrity and excellence. We don’t take that lightly.
To our clients — thank you for your trust. We’re grateful for the opportunity to keep earning it, every single day.
Gratitude for the Team Who Makes It Happen
Of course, none of that trust could be sustained without the people behind the scenes — our team.
At SBK, we talk a lot about stewardship and excellence, but those aren’t just ideas written on a wall. They’re lived out every day by the people who show up with integrity, patience, and purpose.
Each member of our team carries more than a job title. They carry the weight of someone’s dream — the business owner on the other side of the spreadsheet, the family relying on that payroll, the entrepreneur trying to build something lasting.
That’s why we’re so thankful for the men and women who make up SBK. They don’t just do their work well; they do it with heart. They lead with humility, celebrate each other’s wins, and hold each other up when things get heavy.
Gratitude becomes real when it turns into honor — and we honor the people who make this mission possible.
To our team: thank you for showing up consistently, for caring deeply, and for believing that faith and finance can work together. You embody what it means to sow consistently, build wisely, and keep going.
Gratitude for God’s Provision and the Calling We Steward
Of course, none of this would be possible without the blessing and grace of God’s provision.
Each of us has been uniquely gifted and providentially placed here — for however long — to serve those around us and to serve our clients. Our core focus at SBK has always been to reflect God’s design for serving others by creating meaningful connections. The what of our work may be accounting and advisory, but the why runs deeper: to serve with purpose, knowing that every opportunity is something we’ve been entrusted with, not entitled to.
That’s why we talk often about stewardship over success. True success isn’t something we manufacture through striving; it’s something we receive through obedience. Our job is to work faithfully and with excellence, to plant good seeds, and to trust God with the harvest.
We’re not called to force outcomes — we’re called to be faithful in the process.
So as we grow, celebrate, and look ahead, we do so with open hands. Every client, every challenge, every breakthrough is evidence of God’s provision — not our own power. And for that, we’re deeply grateful.
Gratitude in Action
Gratitude isn’t passive — it moves us to act. It shapes how we lead, how we serve, and how we love the people around us.
As we head into this Thanksgiving season, we want to pause and say thank you — to our clients, our team, and to the God who’s entrusted us with this work. The story of SBK isn’t about numbers or milestones; it’s about people, purpose, and provision.
May gratitude continue to guide how we grow — not just this week, but every week that follows.
From all of us at SBK,
Happy Thanksgiving.
