It’s more than a little telling that as I was preparing to write this commentary about Thanksgiving, something happened at work that triggered an angry outburst. “Stop bothering me when I’m trying to write about my blessings!”
Talk about missing the point.
I am not by nature a “glass half full” person. When confronted with a change in circumstance, my first inclination is to focus on how it could make my life more difficult. So opining about the importance of giving thanks is not my strong suit.
Yet, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is simultaneously simple and profound.
Thanksgiving is straightforward—family, friends, food and football. It’s a recipe that is easily replicated year after year. Sure, some of us will eat too much and a simmering family discontent may rekindle, but we’ve had all year to prepare for how to be on our best behavior.
The holiday is also deeply meaningful as we reflect on our blessings and express our thanks for them. Even in the midst of a bloody Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued an inspiring Thanksgiving proclamation.
“To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.”
In other words, we can all find reason to give thanks, even during dark times.
I went through a period a few months back where every night before bed I counted my blessings. As one would expect, the list became longer each night. Unfortunately, I fell out of the habit, although Thanksgiving is a good reminder to start again.
One psychologist I read suggested that counting your blessings is not enough, that it can leave a person with a feeling that they don’t deserve all the good things in their life.
That reminded me of the song by Kris Kristofferson. “Why me Lord, what have I ever done, to deserve even one of the pleasures I’ve known.”
That’s all we need at Thanksgiving—a healthy dose of guilt to go with the turkey and mashed potatoes.
For me, listing my blessings brings on a feeling of humility, and the more humbled I am, the more likely I will be to extend grace to others, and that goodwill spreads out like ocean waves.
Sure, I may still snap at a co-worker or grouse about a change of circumstance, but I also know that the true meaning of Thanksgiving is never far away. I just have to do a little counting.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!