Leading up to thanksgiving, I was looking over what sorts of things we can write about being thankful. What I discovered is that the magic word isn’t “thankful”, it’s “grateful”, which means the difference in gratitude is understanding that what you have is enough.
“Thanks” is something we say almost as an afterthought. Some of us say grace before a meal, some of us say thank you after a transaction, and other times that lack passion and real feeling, because “thanks” is more of a polite habit than anything else in modern languages. It indicates that you have what you need and you move quickly on.
The difference in the concept of “gratitude”, in my mind, is that one of the requirements of practicing gratitude is pause for consideration for what you’ve done, have, and received. To be thankful is to acknowledge that you’ve got an immediate need accomplished. To be grateful is to acknowledge that you’ve thought long and hard about all that makes your life possible, and see the reality that on going needs are being met, then demonstrating it by helping others when you can. What you have right now is enough.
With so much talk about the massive exodus to shopping malls and outlet stores, and retailers everywhere happening just a week from now, why not sit down and ask yourself, “Do I really need a new top that badly? Is my coffee maker really just fine? Do we really need another TV/special toy/appliance/nick-nack item?”
How can we truly express our gratitude when we are always looking for the next thing, waiting for that next paycheck, or otherwise constantly worrying about the future? Gratitude is being good with the present and appreciating the past that brought us there.
Please, do me a favor. Take just 5 minutes every day to reflect on all of the different ways that you are blessed. Really look up close and feel the awesome weight of those blessings. Then, if you have any chances to help others, do it. Because helping others is an expression of gratitude. Not because you pity, but because you know how they feel. And when they say thank you, encourage them to help someone else when they’re able.
