A Gratitude Adjustment

It has seemed to me fit and proper that [the gifts of God] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens . . . to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. ~Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), Thanksgiving proclamation, 1863

I am always happy when Thanksgiving is approaching. This wonderful holiday offers the opportunity to think about, and be thankful for, so many things that continue to delight and sometimes even astound me. To have the privilege of being a mother and, this still amazes me---a grandmother---is one of life’s best gifts. As many of my family and, as well, dear friends, gather around our table on Thursday, we will take some time before the turkey is carved to share what we have to be thankful for. Though I do expect to hear from our 4 year old grandson that he is most thankful for his Spiderman action figures, most of what is mentioned will not be “things” but people, and what those people have meant to us.

Looking back over the years of marriage and rearing children, there were many times we did not have the finances to do, and to have, what it seemed so many others did. However, as I became more aware of the world beyond my own little circle, I realized how truly blessed we were.

I have a link to this video posted on my web site and want to share it here as well. It has been an eye-opener for me and my attitude of gratitude: Miniature Earth Sincere gratitude turns our attention to what we do have instead of what we don't. Consistently ungrateful people tend to think that material goods, such as a big-screen TV, or winning the lottery will make them happy. On the other hand, people who recognize the blessings they have tend to realize that true happiness comes from things like fulfilling relationships--which, research shows, are the real sources of satisfaction. One legacy I hope to pass on to my children, and grandchildren, is the ability to give thanks for the things that matter most: family, love, and the wonder and mystery of our troubled but still beautiful world.

If there is any advice I would share for the Thanksgiving season, and the holiday season as a whole, it is that each of us should challenge ourselves to continually speak words of thanks, love and comfort to others, especially those we live with. We never really know how someone else may be hurting and need the support we can offer.

Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day. ~Robert Caspar Lintner

Almost everyone has experienced loss of someone or something significant: a child, a spouse, a parent, a friend, a pet, a job. Families can be wonderful, however misunderstandings and hurts often occur that aren’t always reconciled. That can cause grief and complications at the Thanksgiving table… if everyone even shows up. It is so important for us to encourage each other, especially during this family season we are entering in November. Traumatic memories fade into the background for people who regularly feel grateful. Troublesome thoughts pop up less frequently and with less intensity, which suggests that gratitude may enhance emotional healing.

Thanksgiving is good but thanks-living is better. ~Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

Think you don't have anyone to thank? Gratitude doesn't depend on circumstances. We can be grateful for just about anything that we've received because of someone or something else. We may feel grateful to our neighbor for a ride to work, to the friend who introduced us to the person who became our spouse, to a child for hugs and kisses, to our creator for the beauty around us. Thankfulness helps us realize that we really are an object of love and care. A conscious focus on gratitude reminds us of the things that get lost in the ups and downs of a busy life. The most important blessings are the ones that are most consistent, such as family, health and home. And those are the ones we usually take for granted. Grateful reflection helps us identify and savor what is truly good in life.

For each new morning with its light,
Father, we thank thee,
For rest and shelter of the night,
Father, we thank thee,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything thy goodness sends,
Father, in heaven, we thank thee.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Thankfulness may launch a happy cycle in which rich friendships bring joy, which gives you us to be grateful for, which fortifies our friendships once again!

I’m a lover of quotes and poetry, so please indulge my sharing one more:

Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South, come the pilgrim and guest,
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored,
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before.
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?
~John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-92), The Pumpkin

I promised recipes so here are my November Recipes. And here is a link to Thanksgiving Recipes. If you have small children check out these free Thanksgiving coloring pages

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All my best for a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.