Be An Attitude of Thanksgiving

More Than Just a Holiday

Like many things in life, holidays often come and go and for some, holidays have lost their meaning and have become just another day. In recent years many have called Thanksgiving, "Turkey Day" or it has become a day to watch football and eat a big feast without a second thought. 

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As we prepare to come together as family and friends, let’s intentionally strive to make Thanksgiving a day to remember our abundant blessings. As Orthodox Christians we are encouraged to "recall these blessings and the generous providence of God" each and every day.

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The Call to Constant Gratitude

St. Paul tells us to "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ALWAYS giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:19,20. He also says in I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “to be joyful always; pray continually; and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

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St. Paul is challenging us to focus on praise and thanksgiving in all circumstances and he is not just talking about what we do in church. St. Paul is inviting us to live the Beatitudes and ‘be-attitude’, to become the attitude, to become factories of good and positive thoughts in everyday life, to freely express our gratitude to others and God. 

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Psychologists often state that sincere gratitude, praise and, thanksgiving, is the healthiest of all human emotions. Hans Selye, a pioneer in stress research, has said that gratitude produces more positive emotional energy than any other attitude in life. And a thankful heart will endear others to us and us to others. This way of life is contagious, and expressing gratitude is not only good for the giver but also good for the receiver.

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Living Our Thanks Everyday

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and prepare for Christ’s Nativity, let us consider the importance of being united in a giving spirit with one another so that we might be united with God and all the company of heaven leading us towards salvation.

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I ask that we dedicate ourselves to stop not only for that brief moment at Thanksgiving dinner, praying and giving thanksgiving to God, the One who grants us life, but to commit our very existence to a life off thanksgiving. I hope we can also stop to acknowledge family, and friends who have inspired, encouraged and loved us. Make it a personal challenge to live your prayers. Challenge yourself to extend kind words of encouragement to others.

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I remember several years ago asking our adult study group to spend half an hour to write to someone who has helped them in their spiritual walk. Consider writing a note to someone who has supported and encouraged you in life. Thank them and tell them how much their support has meant to you!  Make this your thanksgiving prayer offering.

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Prayer as Gratitude

St. John Kronstadt says, "prayer is a state of continual gratitude. If I do not feel a sense of joy in God’s creation, if I forget to offer the world back to God with thankfulness, I have advanced very little upon the Way. I have not yet learned to be truly human. For it is only through thanksgiving that I can become myself."

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Joyful thanksgiving is a skillful art that we must all thirst for. May we become thanksgiving artists, striving to encourage and support each other as we grow closer to God and one another, determined to live life to its fullest. Mark Twain said, "Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth."

Sacrificial Love

Listen to this story of a little boy who had the be-attitude of sharing, helping others, and offering his positive outlook in helping his sister and living like its heaven on earth:

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Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, 

I got to know a lovely little girl named Liz who was suffering 

from a rare life threatening disease. Her only chance of recovery 

appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, 

who had somehow survived the same disease and had developed 

the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked 

the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. 

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep 

breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister

and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. 

Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the 

doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; 

he thought he was going to have to give his sister 

all of his blood in order to save her.

This is the kind of attitude and thanksgiving I am hoping we can become. This kind of attitude will change the world.  May we ask God to be a giver of life like this little boy!

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Happy Thanksgiving,

+fr. Tom

Originally published in the Holy Apostles E-Bulletin