The fourth Thursday of November every year is celebrated as Thanksgiving in the USA. Many forget to be thankful, sadly, it has become a holiday season for many.
History: President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in 1863, a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” He called the American people to humble and seek forgiveness for perverseness and disobedience; and plead for national healing.
Attitude: ‘Gratitude is an attitude’. Being thankful is not only a courtesy or politeness in relationships, but it should also be a right attitude. It does not happen automatically; it must be carefully cultivated. Forgetfulness is human nature, especially to forget the good things we received. ‘Forget not all his benefits or blessings’ is an exhortation given by the Psalmist. (Psalms 103:2)
Humility: People may be grateful, but not humble enough to express their gratefulness. A husband presumes he need not be grateful to his wife for her immense support including cooking. If he considers that as her ‘duty’ or ‘responsibility’; then he may not express ‘gratefulness’.
Honoring others: Gratefulness is also one notch higher. It values another person more than what the person does or contributes to us. “Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
The majority are ungrateful: In fact, Ungrateful people were always there. Lord Jesus healed the Ten lepers – ten were healed, and only one came to give thanks. (Luke 17:11-19) Nine did not bother to be grateful for the great healing and gift of new life. Paul warns that in the last days, people will be ‘ungrateful’. (II Timothy 3:2)
True Spirituality: The Bible teaches us to ‘Give thanks in all situations.’ (I Thessalonians 5:18) There are always things that we ought to be grateful for. One person lost his wallet to a pickpocket during a train journey. He said: “God, I thank you, first because it was just my wallet and not my life; it was a small amount, not a huge amount and it is I am a victim, he a criminal and not vice versa.”
Am I grateful to God and others?