Giving thanks is a simple concept but it doesn't seem like many realize how important it is. It is easy to live a robotic life that rushes through each day without stopping to realize the blessings all around us. It is easy to lose sight of the privileges we enjoy because we often take them for granted. Sometimes, things are taken from us for no fault of our own and we then can see how plainly and clearly how precious life is and how important it is to preserve what we have and to be thankful for it. Millions of people in our own country understand this feeling. In the last several years, many Americans fell victim to the financial crisis as our country plunged into a terrible recession in the late 2000s. Millions of our fellow citizens lost jobs, saw their wages stagnate, and had to sacrifice more to put food on the table for their families -- including Thanksgiving dinners. They know all too well the importance of giving thanks for what they have.
Unfortunately, it appears that some individuals who are far luckier forget how privileged and fortunate they really are. It's not as financially burdensome for them to purchase a Thanksgiving dinner, to feed for their families year round, and to take care of their children and their parents. Therefore, it is easier to forget that simple concept: giving thanks. I have seen firsthand people complain about, whine about or express displeasure about relatively minor inconveniences in their lives that pale in comparison to the struggles that millions of people face. Obviously, I have fallen victim to this mentality too and I know it is truly understandable. There are events in our lives and disturbances in our daily routines that can irk any of us, that can make us feel angry or sad or betrayed, and, in that moment, can make us forget about how thankful we ought to be for our strong families, friends, and our luck.
However, Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to embrace graciousness, to be thankful for the pleasantries and privileges that we have, and to realize that in this finite life, expressing thanks for what we have is the least we can do for ourselves. For the sake of others, the least we can do is to express thanks for the sacrifices that the aforementioned working men and women in this country make each and every day as they work tirelessly to bring home food for their families even when it is difficult. They give thanks everyday for the limited resources they have and they understand how fragile those resources can be. If each of us could see life through that kind of introspective lens of understanding the delicacy of life, we would all be better people and we would all see for ourselves how vital it is to help each other and to be thankful for each other. Be gracious for what you enjoy, be thankful for what you have, and be thankful for the work of others that, in many cases, help make your own privileges of life possible.
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