Information Related to "Thanksgiving Day: More Than Just Being Thankful"
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Thanksgiving Day: More Than
Just Being Thankful
Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday every November.
Perhaps this is the appropriate season to wonder if there is a difference between
being thankful and giving thanks.
by Don Hooser
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Gratitude is the mother of all virtues. That makes sense. Gratitude-a grateful attitude-inspires other good attitudes. It's hard to have a bad attitude when you are feeling grateful.
Ingratitude is probably the most prevalent sin. It is easier to know pity than feel appreciation. It seems easier to criticize than compliment. Griping, grumbling and being grouchy are just doing what comes naturally. They are part of our negative, self-centered nature.
Some people rarely say thank you. You wonder what holds them back. We should have developed the habit of expressing our gratitude by the time we were 3 years old.
Most people probably regard themselves as being properly thankful. If they really are full of thanks, that's wonderful. But thankfulness must be expressed to others to be worth much. Giving thanks is much better than just being thankful. Giving thanks is good for both parties, the giver and the receiver.
Thankfulness tends to be passive. Thanksgiving is active. Thanks are something
that need to be given away-making everyone richer. Note that the national
holiday Americans celebrate is called Thanksgiving Day, not Be Thankful
Day.
Many Thanksgiving Day celebrations undoubtedly involve precious little thankfulness, much less giving thanks. For many the holiday has become known as Turkey Day, characterized more by gluttony than gratitude. Meanwhile people in poor, undeveloped countries look on the United States as incredibly rich and self-indulgent instead of thankful for its abundance, comforts and conveniences.
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