Happy Thanksgiving Day. I wonder what it means to you. I wonder what is on your list of things for which you are thankful. I wonder to whom you are thankful. At the moment, three little house finches perch on the feeder just outside my office window. They seem very thankful for the thistle seed provided there. They also seem thankful for the small degree of heat that leaks from the building. To whom are they thankful?
Character counts in gratitude on Thanksgiving Day. Isn’t that the same as being thankful? No. Gratitude goes beyond merely saying thank you. Gratitude goes beyond really feeling thankful. Gratitude does not replace either of those, but it counts more heavily than those two traits of character.
Suppose that, as you gather around that table groaning with food, you look at the family chef who labored over the food and think, “I’m thankful for the one that cooked the food.” Suppose you then go a step further, and say aloud, “Thank you for preparing this food.” You are exercising thankfulness and gratefulness, but are you exercising gratitude?
Have you ever considered the differences among the three: thankfulness, gratefulness, and gratitude? If you have considered it, have you taught your children the differences?
We exercise thankfulness simply by becoming conscious of the good we have received. Many never stop to think about the blessings they receive every day. Those who do stop and consider the benefits they have received are thankful.
We exercise gratefulness when we not only become conscious of our blessings, but we actually take time to appreciate them. We count our blessings, turning them in three dimensions and appreciating them from every angle.
Gratitude combines thankfulness and gratefulness, and goes a step further. We exercise gratitude when we become conscious of the benefits we have received, take time to appreciate those benefits, vocalize those feelings of appreciation, and then take concrete action to sincerely show our feelings. You not only think about the benefits of having someone cook that great meal for you. You not only tell them “Thank you” as you lift your fork to your lips. You take action at the end of the meal to sincerely show your appreciation.
Character counts in gratitude on Thanksgiving Day, because the exercise of this character trait is true thanksgiving. It is character-in-action!
When the meal is done, gratitude does not go from table to couch and turn on the television set. Gratitude helps clean up the table and wash the dishes to show sincere appreciation. Gratitude looks for a way to help the cook relax. Gratitude thinks of others from whom benefits have been received. Gratitude takes time to write sincere notes of thanks for benefits – even to family members.
I personally am thankful to God for all that He provided to us throughout the past year. I am thankful to my husband, to my children, and to other people He used to benefit us. I am grateful for my many blessings - and I intend to exercise gratitude today. Why? Because character counts in gratitude on Thanksgiving Day.
That’s the view from my chair. What’s your view?