Reflections on Thanksgiving
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“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”
- Psalm 103:1 NIV
The connection between the word “give” and “gift” is clear enough. A gift is something that is given freely and without expectation of return or recompense. Strictly speaking, anytime we give something to someone we are in a sense giving them a gift, unless we are expecting something in return, in which case we aren’t really giving but rather bartering or exchanging gifts. At this time of year when our minds naturally turn to thanksgiving, we do well to remember that the attitude of thanksgiving, of giving thanks and having gratitude is really a gift that one gives oneself simply by being in that state of mind. That is, when we are grateful our state of mind and indeed our entire wellbeing improves. And if we direct our thanks to others, their well-being improves as well. It is what we might call a “virtuous circle,” where the good feeling derived from giving enhances the well-being of everyone involved. One of the best things to do when we’re feeling down is to look for something to be thankful for, and it is almost always close at hand. The instant cure for self-pity is to focus on what we should be grateful for. No matter how bad things may seem, there is always something to be thankful for.
– Christopher Simon
