“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.” Henry Van Dyke
Happy Monday!
It’s Thanksgiving week! Aside from the fabulous Thanksgiving Day treats, I look forward to spending precious time with my sweet girls. It’s the one time of the year when we can enjoy each other’s company, cook together, laugh at ourselves, take time to relax, and be grateful for all we have and share. There are no requirements for the day except to eat too much and have fun in the process. It’s one of those rare occasions when we can leave expectations behind and be present with one another.
My hope is that it’s the same for you and your family. I know that many have to split themselves between several family gatherings. This may cause some angst, as families might be disconnected or have many demands. Maybe you’ll need to take a few deep breaths and guard your thoughts (and words!) with one or more of the relatives, which isn’t much fun for anyone.
My heart is heavy for those who struggle with crowds and holiday gatherings. I encourage you to do what you need to do to protect your peace. You might need to take a walk at some point or go to another part of the venue. Perhaps you’ll need to remind yourself that it’s just for a few hours. Some of you may need to say polite goodbyes sooner than you’d hoped.
The important thing is to take care of yourself the best way possible with the least disruption. It’s perfectly fine to care for yourself, and I encourage you to do so, especially if you haven’t done so in the past. It could change your entire perspective on the holidays.
Regardless of our challenges, Thanksgiving Day is a dedicated time to consider the people who have contributed to the quality of our lives. It’s an opportunity to appreciate all our many gifts and the freedom to enjoy them. It’s a chance to express our gratitude for the blessings we experience daily and share our joy as we’re present to the love and support around us.
Henry Van Dyke was an American author, professor, and clergyman during the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was a prolific writer and taught literature at Princeton. Here are some of his thoughts on being thankful:
I like the progression of thoughts in Van Dyke’s words. He notes that gratitude is a natural response to kindness. In our culture, kindness is valued, which sparks a need to act. Once expressed, there is a feeling of thanksgiving. Then gratitude, kindness, and thankfulness come full circle, completing the process.
There are many examples of thanksgiving found in Psalms:
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.” Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1 (CSB)
“I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:17 (NLT)
“Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.” Psalm 147:7 (NIV)
Here are a couple of others’ thoughts on being thankful:
“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.” Maya Angelou
“Gratitude helps us to see what is there instead of what isn’t.” Annette Bridges
“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” Rumi
“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” Henry David Thoreau
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” William Arthur Ward
And a remarkable side effect of gratitude is that it keeps going. Once the spark of kindness is ignited, it has the potential to spread and perpetuate itself for quite some time. Expressions of gratitude and thankfulness can be contagious.
What are you grateful for? Would this be a good time to express your love and thankfulness to someone in your life? Are you able to do some random acts of kindness this week? I wonder how much more we’d be blessed if we took the time to remember to thank someone this week, particularly someone who may not get to hear those words very often.
This week, I challenge you to express your gratitude and let your spirit lift in the pursuit. I’m convinced the joy you experience will be beyond anything you do to enrich someone else!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
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