The Inner Path: Gratitude on Thanksgiving Day...and every day!

 Psalm 145:7
They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (NIV)

 

 As you already know, long ago Americans dedicated a day during November for the sole purpose of inviting and expressing gratitude.  Thanksgiving Day was meant to pay our homage to the Almighty God for this plentiful and bountiful harvest.  Thanksgiving, no matter how you choose to recognize it, always holds the promise of renewed awareness for all our blessings. Look at the people around you and thank God that you're not spending Thanksgiving Day alone, and appreciate the food you are eating and the person or people who prepared it for you... be grateful.


For many, Thanksgiving Day is the most important day of the year. It's the day we, as a people, stop and give thanks for all that we have. The day we choose to be with family and friends and see the world through the rose colored lens of love and gratitude.  Expressing gratitude helps to bring happiness and joy into our lives.  And no matter what happened all year, Thanksgiving Day allows us to let go of it all and express gratitude.  Gratitude helps us become aware of the light that is in the world and helps us to not be so addictive to the worries of it.  All the darkness is still out there, but what we choose to open our hearts to is an awareness of what's good in the world; the beauty, the generosity, our breath, a morning sunrise, food on the table, a warm place to live, the laughter of children embracing life, or taking a walk with someone we love. Our worries become less important and an amazing healing begins. We begin to realize that if we could just learn to see the world through the lens of gratitude every day, not just on Thanksgiving Day, the whole world would become brighter, more filled with light and compassion, happier and more peaceful. If your goal is true happiness, the spiritual practice of gratitude needs to become a behavior to practice every day of your life.

So as you prepare for your toast and to say your Thanksgiving Day blessing, take the time to cultivate your gratefulness. Appreciating the bounty given to us represents the true spirit of Thanksgiving, so enjoy your turkey as you give thanks to our holy God....that’s what Thanksgiving’s all about... that's what every day is all about.

  

  Thanksgiving Is

Thanksgiving is
A time of gratitude to God, our Creator and Provider,
Whose guidance and care go before us.
And whose love is with us forever.
Thanksgiving is
A time to reflect on the changes,
To remember that we, too, grow and change
From one season of life to another.
Thanksgiving is
A time of changing seasons, when leaves turn golden
In autumn's wake and apples are crisp
In the first chill breezes of fall.
Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
As we see the beauty of Autumn,
Let us acknowledge the many blessings which are our...
Let us think of our families and friends
And let us give thanks in our hearts.
- Anonymous

 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." (NIV) Psalm 107:1