Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the many blessings, big and small, we have in our lives: our family, friends, health, freedom, life's many gifts. To be grateful, sure, for all the grandeur of big accomplishments, fulfilling relationships, exotic adventures (I just came back from a big one, as all of you know), a shooting star or a breathtaking rainbow. But what about feeling grateful for an "ordinary" day, those too are full of limitless magic and countless wonders.
We all do a pretty good job, I think, being thankful for the big stuff, but what about the moments in between? What about being grateful for every moment which is precious, to be thankful for a beating heart, while we do the zillions of things in our day and even in giving thanks for them we forget that simple truth, that we are on borrowed time and every moment we get is a gift which we must appreciate. Don't rush past life, even in your gratitude, if that makes sense, savor and take in the profound, the simple, the answers and questions, all that is obvious, but that which is hidden as well. Let gratitude permeate your being and fill you up, you need not even know why. I have found that just feeling grateful reveals to you things that you should be thankful for that you had not even noticed.
Kahlil Gibran wrote, "all you have shall some day be given, therefore give now that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors." Having the opportunity to be grateful is something to be thankful for in and of itself. I think life teaches us that most things worth having are things we have to nurture, search for, things that are often concealed at first. Don't give thanks just for the stuff you know you should give thanks for, but give thanks for the unknown blessings that are around the corner. Search in your difficult days, troubled relationships, moments and circumstances that seem rough, search for the light always lurking below the surface. There is something to be learned from every moment.
A 19th century Rabbi, Menahem Mendel of Kotzk once asked some visiting scholars "Where does God dwell?" You can sub beauty gratitude, love, for God if you like. Where does God dwell? The scholars laughed and answered what they thought was an obvious question I guess, "God is everywhere, of course. The whole earth is full of his glory." The rabbi shook his head and suggested what I think is an even greater truth, "God dwells wherever man lets him in." True, that things to be thankful for abound all around us, but we have to let them in. Make sure in this season of Thanksgiving, and throughout the year, the door to your heart is always open.
UPDATE..................
Don't forget to say thank you to anyone you know who has served, and their familes. Say thank you to those you don't know as well. I was in an airport the other day, my new home away from home, and on the way to my gate I saw many folks in uniform probably going home to visit their loved ones. Rushing to the gate, I could not stop and have the conversation I would have wanted and express my deep gratitude for all they do, but I stopped, looked them in the eye and said "thank you." That's it, just thank you, and each one responded in their own way, "my pleasure" "you're welcome", "no, thank you" (this one baffled me as I had done such a small thing and deserved no thanks, but I accepted).
Sometimes we think we have to make grand gestures to express our gratitude - I say this as I am the worst at this. I wait, thinking I have to write a thank-you note to convey what is in my heart, or call someone when I am not busy so I can give them my 100%. While I wait for these supposed "perfect" moments and the "right" way to say thank you, I miss all the little ways to do it that I have come to believe can mean just as much. Doing special things for those we love to express our gratitude is a wonderful idea, in truth we do it just as much for ourselves I think, but don't let it stop you from doing the small things.
Comments (13)
Love it...last Saturday I met someone for drinks and she said...I just want to say "thank you" and apologized for not doing it the first conversation we had, the minute we met. We were on a date and we had emailed back and forth and had several conversations, and she said it was the least she could do. What do I say? I told her "thanks for thanking me". It is these little things that mean alot. I never miss a chance to thank a cop when I see them doing security duty..I take pictures with them in whatever city I go to. They do that stuff everyday. You are right, there is no perfect time or way, just do it, it means alot to us, and I'm sure it means alot to other heros like nurses and cops.
Posted by: leatherneck on November 23, 2006 19:30
liked your blog...Just last night I was talking about a quote I keep next to my bed..."the heart that seeks God, finds Him" and I think your blog hits on what I was thinking about last night. After a few glasses of shiraz and going back and forth with my dinner companion, I had fleshed it out in my head. Look for the parting of the red sea and we may wait forever for our blessings. It's the little things we see, be aware of God's work in everything and we are blessed a thousand times over. I see it and you see it and it's good to know others do too.
Posted by: Bravos on November 23, 2006 19:33
Lincoln in Gettysburg 1863 Thanksgiving Day
"In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity... order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict...
"Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship... notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God... It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people... I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also... fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose."
Posted by: flavia on November 24, 2006 00:10
Louis Armstrong, It's a Wonderful Life
Favorite line: when friend meets friend.....
Posted by: on November 24, 2006 12:33
Flavia, you never cease to amaze me. Glad to know with all that political know-how you have space for such poetry in that beautiful brain of yours.
Posted by: Jason on November 24, 2006 21:58
Touching article. So true, so true. It's important to remind ourselves of the many blessings we enjoy in life, instead of obsessing over the things we lack, or the accomplishments that remain unfulfilled.
So Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: JSM on November 25, 2006 01:55
Beautifully written. And inspiring. Thank you.
Posted by: Marc on November 25, 2006 16:14
Thanks for holding your ground in your appearances today. We have so much to worry about in this country and it baffles me why Republicans spend time worrying about things like gay marriage. Why does it matter? I am not gay, and I couldn't care less if two men or women want to get married. They always say it is about morality, but I wonder if it has to do with Health Insurance rights and stuff like that, who knows. What a waste of precious time that could be spent on fixing something that needs to be fixed....And I had to laugh when that other woman starting laughing and said "See Democrats don't have a plan." That is what they always say when THEY can't answer the question as to why we are in the war. We don't have a plan? What exactly is the Republicans plan? We caught Saddam years ago yet we are still having our troops killed everyday. I hate that they always say that. She and her people all think that if we stay status quo that all of a sudden it is going to become peaceful there??? It always baffles me why conservatives don't mind funding a Billion dollar a day war when they are so conservative with their money. Anyway good job...
Posted by: Richie on November 25, 2006 21:10
R's will baffle you because of the hypocritical stands they take. They criticize Al Gore for flying around the country to publicize the threat of global warming, and yet they can recite to you their business plans that call for an investment of time and money to reap a greater reward...the exact same thing Al does when he flies around on jets using fuel...it is a necessary cost to reap greater rewards.They know this principle but play dumb when someone else uses it. They will always baffle you. They make no sense.
Posted by: on November 26, 2006 17:13
I liked your blog
posting--I couldn't agree more with your points on being thankful and grateful for what we have.
Your writing reminded me that over the years I have had to change my personal perspectives on life--especially in politics. It is easy to see how politics in the U.S. work today (and some of the people running the show) and be completely disillusioned and want to remove yourself from the debate.
But even in politics there are immense things to be grateful for: we are lucky to have a system where we can have our voices heard, vote, and debate both the substance and the process; we should be thankful that, while there are some rotten apples in elected office, that most of our elected officials (from the local school board member to the member of Congress) are
trying to do the right thing to make the world a better place and making personal sacrifices to do so every day; and that we are part of a proud history of political organizing and advocacy in America and fortunate to have such great leaders pave the way for us today--truly standing on the shoulders of
giants. We should be proud and thankful for folks like MLK and
RFK and all the unknown and unnamed people who were involved in the suffragette movement, the civil rights movement and all of the other important social movements. Can you imagine that just 40 years ago during the civil rights movement people truly put their life on the line or lost their lives to make our country a better place? For us? And that it allows
folks like us to organize and advocate without fear of physical harm or threat? That we have the resources to do this work--be it an office, computer, paycheck, etc? Truly incredible and something to be thankful
for...
Keep up the good work
Posted by: David on November 27, 2006 13:35
Truly incredible and something to be thankful
for...
David just described Flavs
Posted by: on November 30, 2006 09:10
"We can go through all the activities of our days in joyful awareness of God's presence with whispered prayers of praise and adoration flowing continuously from our hearts." Richard Foster
That's what makes life so rich, learning from the chance meetings and everyday happenings - being aware of God's presence in everything and everyone. Being Thankful.
Everday we can turn the water of seemingly random occurences and chance meetings into the wine of inspiration and learning. We just have to open our eyes and see. How beautiful is this day God has made for us and how sweet is the wine of His presence to fill it. Thanks.
Posted by: on January 16, 2007 17:46
I just want to say thank you in the public domain for people who dedicate their lives to protecting others, putting their own lives at risk in the process. I am grateful to those who forgive, and I am grateful to be alive and healthy, with a heart and mind that yearns for God and seeks to find goodness in others. A heart that is willing to change and grow. Thank ya'll.
Posted by: Joseph on January 26, 2007 09:35