It’s actually the day after Thanksgiving, but yesterday was
quick and busy. I had a great time with my family, cooking with my sister, sharing
great meal times, relaxing, chatting. But now that the hustle and bustle that
comes with pretty much any holiday is over, I want to take the time to take in
and quietly reflect on what this time is all about.
Gratitude,
thanksgiving. Joy.
The three are distinct but also intricately connected. If we
aren’t experiencing one, we’re kinda missing the mark. What is life without
gratitude? Without thanksgiving? Without joy?
It’s easy to express thankfulness, to say “thank you”…but do
we really feel it in our hearts? Do
we mean it? Are we simply putting on the facade of thanksgiving or actually giving thanks?
I had to ask myself a lot recently:
1. Do I appreciate what God has blessed me with? Or am I
constantly asking for more?
Often,
our “thankfulness” is accompanied by a surprising “need” to accumulate more.
Let’s face the ugly facts…sometimes, thanksgiving time brings out the worst in
us. It brings out our ingratitude and
hunger for more… especially as shoppers. Why
is that? Yesterday, I decided to venture out for Black Friday sales to see
what all the talk was about…and now I get why it's sometimes called “Midnight madness”….it
really was madness. Don’t get me
wrong, I’m definitely a fan of sales. I rummaged through all the sale papers,
did my share of research, and even had a list of go-to stores for the night. I
was all set. But….by the time I got there and experienced the “madness”…I
quickly had enough. It’s surprising to believe that we had just celebrated “thanksgiving”
for what we have. How far will we go to get what we want/”need”? If I have all
things…but do not have love…I am nothing (1 Cor 13).
It makes sense that we would be unsatisfied here. While we should be forever grateful, our hearts
should long for more. We were made for more. What we’ve experienced so far is
only a foretaste. We are appreciative, but also living in hope of eternity with
our Lord. For everlasting joy and
endless celebration of thanksgiving to God. But my longing for the infinite cannot be met in finite things. We must stop searching and let Him fill and consume us.
2. Do I compare my gifts, talents, blessings, lives with
others? By quality or number?
God
gives graciously to all as He sees fitting and as they need it. He knows our
hearts. And as scripture tells us, “all good-giving and every perfect gift is
from above, coming down from the father of lights (James 1).” He gives perfect
gifts, and if my life is a gift perfectly-given…then I have no need to compare!
3. Do I feel thankful and express it in the way that I live?
I desperately fail in giving thanks
sometimes. Most times. Almost all the time.
To give thanks we must first
experience a reason to be thankful in our hearts. We must have gratitude. Gratitude is that
overwhelming experience of love and appreciation for something. When we feel
truly grateful for something, it pours out in the way that we live. We give of
ourselves to others more freely. We live with great joy and peace.
Throughout the busyness of “celebrating” and “doing”, I had
to stop several times and ask myself….”Am I truly grateful or am I waiting
around for the next momentary pleasure or gift? How can I better live
gratefulness?”
Gratitude, thanksgiving, joy.
Gratitude for the immeasurable blessings and grace over my life.
Joy in living the life granted to me, the ability to experience it, and specifically
joy in where I am with God right now. And thanks-giving for everything. For the goodness
of the material things but more importantly the spiritual ones. For His faithfulness and provision, the gift of
faith, adoption by the Father through the Son, His sacrificial cross, experiencing His
love, a faith family – the Church, and the hope of oneness with Him eternally.
"The Eucharist, the sacrament of our salvation accomplished by Christ on the cross, is also a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for the work of creation. In Eucharistic sacrifice the whole of creation loved by God is presented to the Father through the death and Resurrection of Christ. Through Christ the Church can offer the sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all that God has made good, beautiful, and just in creation and in humanity.The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished through creation, redemption, and sanctification. Eucharist means first of all "thanksgiving."The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of praise by which the Church sings the glory of God in the name of all creation. This sacrifice of praise is only possible through Christ: he unites the faithful to his person, to his praise, and to his intercession, so that the sacrifice of praise to the Father is offered through Christ and with him, to be accepted in him." - CCC 1359-1361
Let’s take time to consider our blessings, time to engage in
them, and time to notice those quiet whisperings of God…those moments
especially infused with His spirit.
God, make us always a people of thanksgiving.
