In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:18  New American Standard Bible (©1995)

Thanksgiving day is Every day…
…If  we make it that.   And we can.  And we should.

It should be in your heart. It really is if you look deep inside.  But the mess of the world around us can bury it.  Appreciating that which is good… is important to our personal health and vital to making a difference on this planet while you can.

It’s our choice.  Sure there is doom and gloom. It can take us over. It can dominate our thoughts, control our beliefs and change how we feel, behave and react to our world.

Gratitude is a choice.   It is a thing to do.     It is a process.  And it is a very beneficial one.
But we have to decide to do it.

If you are reading this, you still have your eyesight.  If you cannot see and someone is reading this to you, you have a friend or support system.  Often it isn’t until we lose something, that we truly appreciate it’s value.

“Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished.  If you are alive, it isn’t.“
– Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah:

So, to paraphrase a contemporary pop song… Every day we’re shuffling.

It is extremely helpful to begin each day with an:

Attitude of Gratitude

I am still working on this.  for many years I did not.  Well… not as enthusiastically as I could. I can easily list the ailments, betrayals, losses, unfortunate twists of fate and mean and evil things that have crossed my path.  But it is not as easy for me to say thank you for all those things I have learned to take for granted.

It requires thought, and attention.  if you are constantly looking at the clock to be “on time” for your next life appointment or task… you may be missing the bigger picture. Your real purpose here.

It’s fine to say thank you. We learn from a young age to say, please, thank you , excuse me.  But it is when you really appreciate in your heart what you have…and then express it… let it flow through you…. THAT is gratitude.

I can breath and walk and hug and pray. I am one of the 7-9% of people in the world that own a car. In fact I own several.  Not new ones. Not fancy ones.   But I do not depend on public transportation,  a bicycle, a mule, or walking, to get me where i am going.  I share my cars. One is a gift to my daughter.  I keep my old beat up van running too.  It is one my friends borrow when they are in need. We all jump in it as a family to go to church.

Do you list your blessings or lament your curses?
If you were to list your blessings or your curses honestly… which list would be longer?   Which list would be better to check on each day?

The truth is… If I were to list everything I am thankful for… my morning prayers would run into tomorrow.  And still the things I do not have… the things I have lost…the things I could not accomplish, tend to take center stage in my mind more often then not.

I can work to change that.

Savor each gift we are given.

I have battled depression for a lifetime. Clinical, chemical, situational,  I  have been a high functioning depressed person. Actually I have a great sense of humor about it all most of the time.  But… I tend to be more an Eeyore than a Tigger in this 100 Acre Wood.   What I have learned after years of self indulgence, self medication  therapy, legitimate medication and all sorts of “work-arounds” is this:

Realise what you have and what you have been given. Take the moment to feel it in your heart.  Express your gratitude.  Share it with the world. – jay

I am not stuck being an  Eeyore.  I can change.

Gratitude promotes spiritual health.
Saying “Thank You” ranks right up there with saying “I’m Sorry”  for lots of folks  but  ohhh  the joy they would experience if they took those walls down..   One loses nothing in saying “Thank you” . And there is so much to gain.

The gift that keeps on giving
According to University of Miami psychology professor Michael McCullough, one of the reasons why gratitude works so well is that it connects us with others.”  That’s why when you give thanks it should be more heartfelt and personal instead of a terse thank you note for a gift or a hastily run-through grace before dinner.

My path is now about pulling my head out of my own suffering, loss or denial, and looking, reaching lending a hand to others.

Gratitude fills your spirit and thus becomes it’s own internal reward.  It also touches the world in significant ways. It’s like planting seeds.  It can come back to you and those around you in great ways.

One experiment found that customers of a jewelry store who were called and thanked showed a subsequent 70% increase in purchases. In comparison, customers who were thanked and told about a sale showed only a 30% increase in purchases, and customers who were not called at all did not show an increase. In another study, regular patrons of a restaurant gave bigger tips when servers wrote “Thank you” on their checks.      ^Wikipedia

So how can we start this Attitude of Gratitude?
Understand, It is about letting God’s love flow through you. It is about your presence being a blessing in this world.  Take five minutes right now and watch a simple peaceful video.  It may slow you down and get you focused on what is truly important.  You.

A Good Day Video   with brother David Steindl-Rast

Harvard Health offers these  6 ideas:
Gratitude helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. And, although it may feel contrived at first, this mental state grows stronger with use and practice.

Here are some ways to cultivate gratitude on a regular basis.

Pray. People who are religious can use prayer to cultivate gratitude. Often we pray for help. But we should also pray with thankfulness, gratitude for the gifts we get on a daily basis.

Write a thank-you note. You can make yourself happier and nurture your relationship with another person by writing a thank-you letter expressing your enjoyment and appreciation of that person’s impact on your life. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. Once in a while, write one to yourself.

Thank someone mentally. No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual.

Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one thoughts about the gifts you’ve received each day.  Look for the good that came from the bad.    for examples: Think of all the good things that happened because something bad happened first. For example:

“If that slow driver hadn’t pulled in front of me, I’d have gotten a speeding ticket.”

“If I hadn’t tripped on the playground, I would never have met such a nice person.”

“If I hadn’t been laid off, I would never have gotten a better job.”

Count your blessings. Pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings — reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to pick a number — such as three to five things — that you will identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you.

Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a word or phrase (such as “peace”), it is also possible to focus on what you’re grateful for (the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.).

Actions Speak Louder…
Instead of simply a sentimental feeling, Christian gratitude is regarded as a virtue that shapes not only emotions and thoughts but actions and deeds as well.*

If you do a good job for others, you heal yourself at the same time,  because a dose of joy is a spiritual cure. It transcends all barriers. – Ed Sullivan

I am donating blood. I am volunteering at my church. I am going to give time to my local food bank.  I have to push myself sometimes, but it is not a chore so much as a giving from my heart. I expect momentum as I move forward in these things.  Following Christ.

Since I had my family of choice we have had a tradition of going around the room and saying what we are thankful for. It means everyone gets to voice words of thanks.

I am thankful you were able to read this and hopeful it touches you not just today but through all seasons tough and bountiful.

Share it with others.

Feel free to share some things you are thankful for here.

Resources:

Books
Count Your Blessings:  The Healing Power of Gratitude and Love  Dr. John DeMartini

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah  Richard Bach

Links
15 Inspirational Quotes About Thankfulness and Giving Thanks – Yahoo Voices

Giving Thanks Can Make You Happier – Harvard Health

Why Giving thanks is good for the Psyche – Huffington Post

Gratitude Tutorial: How Thankfulness Can Improve Your Life – Knowledge Hound

Gratitude – Wikipedia       Thanksgiving  – Wikipedia

A Good Day Video   –Gratefulness.org

What percentage of the world’s population own a car – Wiki Answers

* “Giving Gratitude: Spiritual and Religious Correlates of Gratitude.” Journal of Psychology and Christianity 24.2 (2005): 140-48. Print. Emmons, Robert A., and Teresa T. Kneezel.