Thanksgiving is this Thursday yet the focus seems to be on the Black Friday sales the day after. Friday is four days away but here in the Bay Area, a few hearty shoppers have already begun camping in front of their favorite store to be one of the first in line for the greatly anticipated once a year bargains.
Have we forgotten the spiritual significance of this holiday? Since 1863, Thanksgiving has been an official annual tradition.
The event many Americans call the “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in 1621. The feast lasted three days and was attended by 53 Pilgrims and 90 Native Americans. I realize Thanksgiving is only celebrated here in the United States and Canada but regardless of where we live in the world all of us have reason to be thankful and we don’t need an official holiday to express it.
Take this four-question quiz by Missionary David Thompson. According to Thompson, if you can answer three of the four questions with “yes” you are among the 10% wealthiest people who’ve ever lived on earth:
1. Do you own more than one pair of underwear?
2. Do you own more than one pair of shoes?
3. Do you own your own transportation?
4. Do you have a choice of what to eat for at least one meal out of three?
How did you score?
Do you realize our forefathers did without
Sugar until the 13th Century?
Coal fires until the 14th Century?
Buttered bread until the 15th Century?
Potatoes until the 16th Century?
Coffee, tea and soup until the 17th Century?
Pudding and eyeglasses until the 18th Century?
Eggs, matches and electricity until the 19th Century?
Automobiles, televisions, computers and McDonalds until the 20th Century?
Despite how deprived each of these people were through the centuries, each generation still had innumerable reasons to be thankful.
If you decide to be unthankful what is the alternative? Hate? Anger? Violence? Depression? Greed? Not good alternatives to me, how about you?
Thankfulness means gratitude, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything you receive. It means living your life as if everything were a miracle, and being continuously aware of how much you’ve been given.
In addition, behavioral and psychological research has shown the amazing life improvements that can come from the practicing gratitude. Giving thanks makes us happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress.
Let’s commit to putting the “Thanks” back in Thanksgiving. If you like this post please forward this to your favorite social media. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!
