What is the difference between Thanksgiving and Turkey Day?
Is Thursday merely a family feast?
Cicero wrote gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. Thankfulness cuts down bitter complaining attitudes. Thankfulness is the opposite of entitlement. Thankfulness forces us to remember how we have benefited from the sacrifices of others. This thankfulness requires humility, admitting that we really do not deserve the blessings we have received. Thankfulness takes nothing for granted.
I think that without thankfulness it is impossible to truly appreciate anything.
Enjoy your turkey, but talk to your family about what it means to be thankful. Make it explicit.
Several years ago I was lucky enough to spend Thanksgiving with a rather large family that had an interesting Thanksgiving tradition. Of course they would give thanks for their meal by way of saying “Grace” before the meal. But then during the meal they would go around the table and each person would very thoughtfully list at least three things that they were grateful for. I liked this tradition so much that I transported it to my family so now on Thanksgiving we go around the table and everyone gives thanks for at least three things. Now even, sometimes during special events like birthdays, we’ll also give our Thankfuls to each other.
As a society these days, I think we usually spend way too much time griping about all the things we don’t have, rather than being grateful for the blessings we do have. An attitude of grattitude goes a long way towards inner peacefulness and serenity.
Comment by J. Raymond Wright — 11/25/2008 @ 11:20 am
Good idea. I plan to share JD’s story. He’s has had 2 surgeries in 4 days so I’m sure he knows the difference between Thanksgiving and being thankful.
Comment by DRJ — 11/25/2008 @ 1:41 pm