Sunday, November 20, 2016

Gratitude



The first American Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621, when the pilgrims, thankful for their bountiful harvest in the new land and their Indian friends, gathered together to praise God and to express their gratitude. Since then, Thanksgiving has traditionally been a day to celebrate all the things for which we are grateful. One day, out of three hundred sixty-five days in a year, when many families sit around their dining room tables, hold hands and tell, one at a time, what they’re grateful for. Which is wonderful but. . . .

What about the other three hundred sixty-four days? We’re all busy living our lives; we can easily get so caught up in work, writing and/or other responsibilities that we take things and people for granted. We forget to stop to appreciate all that we have and to be thankful for our many blessings. We need to remember that each day is a gift, a present.  

Do we get up in the morning, thankful to be alive? Are we determined to make the most of each day or do we slog through life, bitter and complaining? Do we notice all the little things that go wrong in our day or do we focus on the ones that go right? There’s so much beauty in the world. Do we take time to appreciate and enjoy nature? Do we tell the important people in our lives how much they mean to us? Do we stop to give thanks (and credit) to others who encourage and support us?

I think of gratitude as an attitude we should strive to possess and express every day, not just on Thanksgiving. In our complicated world, often, the simplest words can have the greatest meaning. The following lines, from a poem I learned as a child, sum it up. “Thank you for the world so sweet. Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the birds that sing. Thank you, God, for everything.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

12 comments:

  1. Good morning Pat, I grew up with that same poem 😀. This has been a very difficult year for my family, friends and for me! So I am absolutely thankful for every moment of every day that God had so graciously given me!

    I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

    Sharon

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    1. Sharon, I'm sorry to hear that you've had such a rough year. I've had my share of them too. But, out of every hardship, comes a lesson and a blessing. We learn to appreciate and be grateful for everything God has given us.

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  2. I think we need to be grateful to be alive, regardless of the challenges we face. I appreciate your positive attitude, Pat.

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  3. Well said, Pat! Happy Thanksgiving!

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  4. What a lovely post, Pat. And so appropriate, not only for Thanksgiving, but for every day of the year. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  5. Wonderful post, Pat! And a good reminder for all the things I'm grateful for and that I should be saying Thank You for. You're right, sometimes we get too busy and forget our blessings.

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    1. Thanks, Marja. It's true. Sometimes, we got so involved in the "little" things that we forget to be thankful for the "Big" things, like family, friends and good health.

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  6. Beautiful post, Pat. I echo Sharon's words above. Despite some very hard times, I continue to be thankful for each and every day--no, hour--of peace and love. I wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Amy. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too!

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