Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving comes just once a year with a lot of fanfare, high expectations, and too much food for many of us. This Thanksgiving I spent the day with friends I’ve known for decades. As the years have passed our love seems to grow and multiply. Looking around the table, I realized how special it was to be with them, their friends, their children, and their grandchildren. I felt overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for the fellowship, the delicious food, the privilege of being at their table and sharing precious gifts together.

Later when I returned home, I took stock of what I was grateful for. I started by making a list of the usual things: my family, my friends, my health, my meaningful work, my city. But then I decided to get down to the basics – the ‘little’ gifts I have that I take for granted.

Now looking back on Thanksgiving, I want to make giving thanks for the little parts of life be more constant in my daily living. I believe it will help me to grow spiritually. As Joyce Rupp asks in her poem ‘Gratitude for the Little Moments’

. . . but deep thankfulness / for the bite-sized / pieces of my life?
I had not thought of them, / those little snippets of time
so easily consumed / in the hurry and blur / of pretentious days

With this in mind I’ve written some questions we might ask ourselves. And if we answer ‘yes’ to a question, we may want to pause and say, ‘Thank you, God.’

1. For the moment, forget about any aches and pains we may have. Consider these questions: Can we see? Can we hear? Can we taste things? Can we walk? Are we nourished? Give thanks for any ‘yes’ answer.

2. Think about the people with whom we have shared our lives. Remember our childhoods. Do we have fond memories of caring parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, teachers, friends, neighbors? Give thanks for each one of them.

3. What about those around us today? Is our life enriched by special friends, a partner, children, grandchildren, colleagues, a pet? Give thanks.

4. Think about the things that bring us pleasure. Do we enjoy singing, a sport, cooking, eating a good meal, walking outdoors? Do we love the excitement of the city? The quiet of the country? Do we feel uplifted by music? Do we find pleasure or wisdom in reading or in watching films? Give thanks.

Yes, so much to give thanks for.

Beloved Giver of Gifts. Thank you for creating us in your image. We assume so much about life and take too much for granted. We don’t thank you for the little things of life that add up to make our lives rich and full. Help us to learn to be more grateful to you, our beloved Giver. We give you thanks. Amen.

Joy Carol