It’s amazing how quickly Thanksgiving can come go without actually reflecting gratitude for all of God’s blessings, without extending our heartfelt thanks to those who have supported and encouraged us in our life’s journey. Listen to two scenarios I found in the media that sends opposing messages regarding thanksgiving.
In one episode of the "The Simpsons" a cartoon show, the young brat Bart is asked to say grace. He prays, "Dear God, we paid for all this stuff ourselves, so thanks for nothing."
There is another show with Jimmy Stewart, where the family is gathered at the dinner table with bowed heads for prayer. Jimmy Stewart says "Lord we planted this seed, we watered the plants, we picked the food and we cooked it, we did it all ourselves, we worked dog bone hard for this but we thank you just the same amen"
Whether we paid for stuff ourselves or planted, watered, picked and cooked our meal, Thanksgiving reminds us to always have an attitude of thanks with God just the same. The scriptures teach that a thankful attitude joins heaven and earth; whereas, an ungrateful attitude keeps heaven and earth, the spiritual and the material, separate.
When we are thankful, we recognize that food, shelter, and all other necessities come to us because of the mercy of Almighty God. Thankfulness even in times of difficulty turns our hearts towards heaven.
Liana Bivoino shared a story about being thankful in the midst of an eminent disaster at our youth Lenten retreat. She was in her apartment many years ago and walked by the mirror in the living room and saw the reflection of a bright orange color in her bathroom.
She took a double take, ran to the bathroom and realized that she had a full-blown fire that was burning out of control. It sounded like a train screaming through the house. There was no time to think. She ran out of the apartment with the clothes on her back and and asked someone to call 911 as she watched smoke and flames blaring out of her window.
She was devastated realizing that everything she treasured was in her apartment! Pictures, books, valuables, clothes, things from childhood were all gone!! She was barefoot in Seattle losing everything. And then people, strangers started coming out of nowhere to take care of her.
She found envelops with her name at the parish hall with money. People put money in envelops on her windshield. There were a many stories from the Red Cross giving a voucher for glasses, to the eyeglass owner bumping her up to a more quality lens for her glasses.
These acts of generosity happened on a daily bases. Even people who had very little like the elderly residents, at the home she worked for who had no money, would give her an envelope with a quarter, a roll of dimes.
The material treasures she lost in the fire was not the true treasures. The true treasure was the ability to see God’s hand in the people who supported and encouraged her during this time.
And when people would say, how could this happen to you Liana. You are such a good person, you don’t deserve this. She remembers saying that this is a blessing discovering what true gifts are.
She said, "It was God’s way of sending me messages that He was not going to abandon me and I was going to have everything I needed. They were like little yet powerful notes from God saying I am here. I havn’t left, You are not alone. I know what you need and I will provide what you need and more."
If we make an effort to open our eyes, we will see the many blessings and gifts God gives us. But we have to be mindful to keep our eyes focused on Jesus extending our arms to catch God’s Grace, His rays, His embrace, His love for us.
I ask that we make time to stop for more than a moment praying and giving thanksgiving to God, the One who grants us life. I hope we can also stop to acknowledge family, friends who have inspired, encouraged and loved us.
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 learnt to be truly human. For it is only through thanksgiving that I can become myself."
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. Whatever you do, do it in the name of Jesus giving thanks to God!!!
Blessings to you all!!
Fr. Tom
