THANKS
She had her teeth knocked out by a mule as a young girl. She was the family's baby, having six older brothers and one older sister during her youth in the teens and twenties of the 20th century. She lived through the depression, marrying the love of her life, welcomed her first child, a daughter before World War II, another during the war, and a son post-war. She was born in the country but thrived in the city. She was generous and she was deeply thankful. She let people know that they were difference-makers in her life. She was my maternal grandmother, or to me, she was Mammy. She always made sure I thanked people in the moment and afterward.
This is our story: when we experience challenges, accept help and guidance, recognize God’s hand in our lives, and let people know we appreciate them for what they’ve done and who they are. We say, in many ways, ‘Thank you.”
Thanks is an expression of gratitude for the companions and factors of good in our lives for something specific.
THANKFUL
For decades, I have been developing toward the ideal Phil. I seem to grow slowly in my soul and spirit. At each stage of illumination, where I see and incorporate my learning, discoveries, explorations, and shifts forward, I develop a mindset of gratitude. It’s like, “Wow, that was good. Where’d it come from, and why didn’t I see or know it sooner?”
It's almost like a mining experience for me where I shout, “Eureka!” when I chip away the gray and find a glimmer of gold. The word eureka comes from the Greek verb “heuriskein,” which means “to find” or “to discover.” Its literal translation is “I have found it.”
The accumulation of valuable discoveries, insights, wisdom, and changing elements for the better creates a depth of appreciation in my heart and soul and a mindfulness of the accumulated abundance I value. I produced none of it; it was there to be discovered. I am grateful. I have a mindset of gratitude that is consistently spilling over. I am, wherever I find myself, spilling over with thankfulness.
THANKSGIVING
That brings me to my third element to express today's participation in the chorus of Thanksgiving. In my younger years, I was a member of a great choir—the Mableton Church of God Youth Choir. That symphony of voices won awards, traveled, shared, and enjoyed making music together that none could do alone. That is precisely what Thanksgiving Day is—a chorus of thanks and thankfulness expressed with others.
On this day, if no other day, we gather as a collective. We may spend it with family and friends or even in a Waffle House eating an All-Star Special with only two waitresses and a grill cook.
Thanksgiving is that ultra particular time when we share our gratitude, let others know that we are thankful, and listen with awe and respect for others' expressions of thanks. In the middle of this interaction, we may find a quest for thankfulness because someone is in a challenging moment, extenuating circumstances, or up against a wall that could seemingly tip over in their direction, overwhelming their ability to breathe and move forward. In these times of intentional sharing and listening, we celebrate what has been and scheme ways to ‘Eureka!’ moments we will talk about in years to come.
PRACTICE
So, on this Thanksgiving Day, incorporate all three elements in your recognition of the great importance of this day.
Find someone who has made a difference in your life and thank them.
Create a mindset of thankfulness, accumulating your years of eureka moments when someone shared, information surfaced, God moved, miracles happened, you learned, and gladness was felt.
Find someone to share with, listen to, be in awe with, laugh with, be with…even if it is someone you’ve never met and may never see again.
Make today a real Thanksgiving that has nothing to do with Turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, pecan pie, or football. Share your heart. Share your thanks. It is Thanksgiving Day!
Comentarios