Gratitude, Thankfulness and Thanksgiving

Does Thanksgiving make you nostalgic? I think about past years spent with my family of origin and those who have passed on from this life. I reminisce about how we spent that special time – playing games and squabbling over who should’ve won, eating too much of our favorite foods that are only prepared once a year, sitting together in the living room talking about our lives. Sometimes those memories bring a smile, but, more often than not, they bring tears of regret and sadness for what is no more. If you can relate to these feelings, I’d like to offer a different perspective that has helped me overcome these conflicting emotions.

A few years ago, I started trying to cultivate an attitude of gratitude by writing down at least three things I’m grateful for every day. I’ve tried two methods of listing – first thing in the morning when I wake up and last thing at night before I go to sleep. I can’t say that either method is better than the other. Mornings, I typically rely on what happened the day before or what I’m observing in the moment; nights, I can reflect and recognize blessings that I overlooked in the busyness of the day. Either way, finding these three things to express thankfulness to God raises my focus from earth to heaven.

Anytime I look to Father God, He increases my blessings. Not because He gives me more but because I become more aware of how much He’s already given.

“The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude.”

Maya Angelou

GRATITUDE

Gratitude is a form of encouragement, and everyone needs encouragement. When I express gratitude to someone, whether it’s my husband, my child, a friend, or a store clerk I may never see again, it brings a smile to their face and a light to their eyes. Gratitude doesn’t cost me anything except a moment of my time and the effect lasts far longer than the effort. Having worked in different customer service industries, I know the value of a grateful customer – to the company as well as the employee. Gratitude makes people feel seen, heard, and appreciated.

THANKFULNESS

Thankfulness is recognizing when you have benefited from someone or something, intentionally or unintentionally. When someone does me a favor, or when a closer parking spot opens up when it’s raining, it’s important to be thankful. Acknowledging something good happening in my life pivots my focus. Sometimes I need that shift to snap me out of defeating thought patterns or complaining about some circumstance I find myself in. Thankfulness helps me focus on the positive and allows me to distance myself from the negative.

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving is “the act of giving thanks” or “a prayer expressing gratitude” according to Merriam-Webster. When I take the time to give thanks to Father God through prayer, it strengthens my relationship with Him. He feels closer and more relatable. The more I practice thanksgiving, the more grateful I am, the more I reflect His love to those around me, the more I have to be thankful for. It’s a never-ending and ever-widening loop.

Many times throughout the Psalms, King David writes about giving thanks. Here are just a few examples:

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” Psalms 9:1-2 NIV

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalms 100:4-5 NIV

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalms 107:1 NIV

The Apostle Paul also encourages thanksgiving:

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV

“always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 NIV

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17 NIV

[Emphasis mine throughout these verses.]

Oftentimes, I get caught up in the day-to-day of my life. I begin to dwell more on my to do list and what’s right in front of me, and, unfortunately, my relationships with both God and people begin to suffer. But when I take the time to pause, to reflect and consider all the ways Father God chooses to bless me – Himself and through other people – I’m more content, more grateful, more thankful, and more able to offer up the thanksgiving He so deserves.

The next time you feel you don’t have what you believe you deserve or your circumstances have you down in the dumps, try this simple P-R-E-T-T-Y exercise.

1. Pause
2. Reflect on your day
3. Express gratitude to someone else
4. Think of three blessings
5. Thankful meditation
6. You give thanksgiving to Father God

I believe you’ll find that adopting an attitude of gratitude will serve not only you but those with whom you interact and will give God glory!

You are blessed and you are a blessing!