GIVING THANKS
A few days ago, I had a very interesting discussion with an elderly man, a hospital patient who was deeply saddened at being bedridden for many weeks. To cheer him up, I asked him what might be some positive things in his life. He said he was grateful for having a loving wife and children; for living in Canada – a beautiful, free, and peaceful country; for Medicare; for having had a good education and a good job; and now, a pension, etc. He eventually smiled at the many things he should be thankful for but had taken for granted.
All too often, we too take for granted the many blessings in our lives. Thanksgiving Day invites us to pause and reflect on these, whether we consider them as commonplace or exceptional, and to express our thanks to God for his grace.
Expressing our gratitude to God, acknowledging our dependence on him, our indebtedness, is an act of humility, the virtue so dear to Jesus. It’s why the cherished tradition of this day has a profound significance for us. Gratitude, in fact, is of such religious importance that it’s at the center of the Catholic Mass: “Eucharist” means thanksgiving. When we gather for Mass, we participate in the act of giving thanks to God for his presence in our lives.
St. Paul counseled us about “giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything” (Ephesians 5:20). The entire Bible, in fact, overflows with the same advice in many different ways. To thank God “at all times and for everything” sounds like we should do so not just despite any suffering in our lives, but even for our difficult situations. Many people, myself included, can indeed testify that when we do so with sincerity in difficult situations then either our situation will turn out to be what was best for us all along or our outlook changes and we find peace and serenity in the very heart of the difficulty. Thanking God for all things through prayer and worship does more than just turn us into optimists. Our sincere, humble trust in God opens our hearts to receive his grace in our lives.
In a world so often divided and fragmented in many ways, the spirit of love and friendship of Thanksgiving Day is a great opportunity for us to come together, to gather with family and friends around a good meal to celebrate with gratitude the bonds that unite us, as we create lasting memories.
May this Thanksgiving Day be one of reflection, a powerful reminder for us that, when gratitude is a way of life and not just a fleeting emotion, when it permeates every part of our day the way St. Paul suggests, then we are part of the solution for the world. May all the goodness and mercy which we so often receive freely from people around us prompt us to pass the same kindness on to others, to share our blessings with the less fortunate, and to strengthen our bonds with one another in a renewed hope for the world.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Eugene Aucoin is a retired human resources director and university professor. He spoke around the world about nurturing human potential, but his passion is sharing his love for the teachings of Jesus. His first book Has Science Killed God? won Asia’s best Catholic book of the year in theology in 2020. His next book, with Novalis, will focus on the Beatitudes for inner peace and happiness. Eugene also gives seminars about faith.
