Thanksgiving...a Way of Life

When I was a kid growing up in the 50's and early 60's my parents focused on teaching my sisters and me politeness.  We were expected to use Mr. and Mrs. with last names for my parents' friends.   No elbows on the table, no slurping, "don't talk with your mouth full!", and "May I be excused?" before we left the table.  We would not have thought of receiving a gift, regardless of size, without saying, "Thank you." I remember thinking that I wouldn't expect these archaic habits of my children.  But one did continue.  I have always appreciated and taught "Thank you."

In adulthood I have continued to be quick to thank others for what they do and share.  It just seems like the right thing to do.  I have realized lately, though, that my appreciation for the actions of others can be rote, not really from the heart.  I long to cultivate an attitude of gracious thankfulness.

Unlike the seeming peacefulness of my childhood, I now live in a world of stress, confusion, and fear.  The world has become very small.  The Communist Threat has been replaced by the Terrorist Threat.  I recognize, almost daily, the struggles and natural disasters of people who live around the world from me,  who now seem to be my neighbors.    Politeness, and even thankfulness, do not seem appropriate or wise in such circumstances.

In spite of all this craziness in the world, I have learned that my attitude about my circumstances impacts those around me more than anything else.  Somehow the act of saying "thank you" exposes only surface-level gratitude.  Being a grateful person, rather thank acting like one, involves my heart more than my head.

As I reflect on our lives this Thanksgiving, 2010, I am thankful for the perspective that no matter how hard the things we do may be, we live safely in the arms of One who loves us, holds us, never leaves us.  He knows better than I that life can be hard and, sometimes, our hearts are broken by what we  are called to do.  Circumstances, the actions of life, no longer dictate whether or not I am thankful because I am learning to BE a thankful person, not just act like one.