The Thanksgiving Myth

“I’m glad I have a job.”
“I’m glad I have a place to live.”
Sound like Thanksgiving? It’s not.

“I’m glad I have plenty of food.”
“I’m glad I have good health.”
“I’m glad I have friends and family who love me.”

Nope. These aren’t Thanksgiving, either.
The meaning of this day is found in its name: Thanksgiving.
It’s not, “I’m glad I have” day.

You give thanks to someone.
You’re grateful to someone.
In order to have “an attitude of gratitude,” you need to identify who you’re grateful to. Otherwise, it’s not gratitude. It’s just, “I’m glad I have.”

Most people who stop at “I’m glad I have” feel a sense of hollowness, of being incomplete. Something is missing.

Well, today I’m going to tell you how to fill in the hollow place.

Find a quiet place, when you’re alone. Maybe it’s in the bathroom. Maybe it’s out on the patio. Maybe it’ll be tonight, lying awake in the dark, with your head on the pillow.

Now, here’s what you do: think of God.

Recall all the things you were glad about today. Then, change from, “I’m glad I have,” to, “Thank you.”

Quietly, even silently, say, “Thank you, God.”

Stop right there. Don’t feel like you have to get all mushy and gushy and wordy. Just tell him thank you, and really mean it, and then shut up.

I will tell you in advance what you’ll hear in reply. God is oh-so-gracious, and he loves you oh-so-much. When you say, “Thank you, God,” he’ll reply. And this is what he’ll say: “You’re welcome, my child.”