This year, October 14th is set aside as Thanksgiving Day. Really? Is there only one day or weekend a year for giving thanks? Surely, every day is Thanksgiving Day if we have eyes to see the abundant gifts that surround us moment by moment. However, it is a blessing that we have this harvest celebration each fall. We pause in our busy lives and remind ourselves that while being surrounded by the media spouting bad news, violence and war, our world is also a planet of beauty, peace and kindness.
As a backlash to today’s reported gloom and doom, the word “gratitude” is popping to the surface in magazine articles, urging us to become mindful people. The writers espouse that developing an attitude of gratitude is good for the body, mind and spirit. We have much for which to be grateful.
If we mortals pause and focus on life’s gifts, we can see how blessed we are. We can develop an attitude of gratitude by setting aside a few minutes at daybreak and sunset to be thankful for the gift of health, the blessings of family, the wealth of friendship, the kindness of others, the beauty of earth, the bountiful harvest, the changing of seasons, the wonder of God. The list is endless. Yes, the less savory aspects of life remain but the positive far exceeds the negative.
My friend’s thanksgiving card announces, “God’s love is all around us. It’s in the colours of autumn, in the warmth of sunshine---and in the blessing of people.” We bow our heads in gratitude. Thanksgiving is indeed thanks living.
-Sister Jean Moylan, csj