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Category: Holidays / Topics: Holidays Holiday Season Thanks, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving

Why Should I be Thankful?

by Dan Seagren

Posted: November 18, 2012

I am thankful that Thanskgiving has become a National Holiday…

I am thankful that Thanksgiving has become a National Holiday. Why? Because I enjoy turkey, pumpkin pie and apple cider? In part, yes. But there are other, and better reasons. Let's look at some.

It gives us a 4-day holiday. It brings families and friends together. It gives students and faculty a timely break. It is a reminder to take an inventory (hopefully) for what we are thankful. It puts an added rhythm to life (can you imagine life with no holidays?). It gives us an opportunity to share with less fortunate neighbors. And we could go on and on . . .
Let's take another look at the title: Why Should I Be Thankful?

Why is a common word, asked from the cradle (almost) to the grave). Why do we eat turkey? Why not? Why suggests that we should probe deeply into the holiday, its origin, its meaning, its opportunities, its mistaken identity (those who exploit it in various ways), its traditions . . .

Should
is another common term. Should I go to work or nurse this awful cold? Should I give the cancer society five dollars or fifty? Should bullies get away with bullying? And that coulda, oughta, shoulda feeling. It compliments by reinforcing the question: Why be thankful or Should I be thankful is enhanced to Why Should I? Maybe just a bit stronger?

I of course put the burden on me, not anyone else. So easy to pass the buck, isn't it? We could have said Why Should We . . . which isn't all bad but the challenge is ours, not anyone or everyone else. That is sometimes a beneficial thing. We all need to take inventory of our selves, our motives, ideals, interests, capabilities, opportunities. 

I remember as a young bachelor being invited to a special Thanksgiving Dinner several years in a row. My friends had a tradition: if they didn't gain five pounds, they had to eat more. They did but I fell short. For me it was worth the 100-mile drive but the best part was being invited. 

Be. The ability to be thankful is an active verb. It should cause us to take inventory of who we are, what our goals are; are we generous or selfish, individualists or "socially inclined?" Are we living up to our potential? Are we compassionate or merciless. This brings us to the last word.

Thankful. When amplified this suggests gratitude, appreciation, obligation, (we owe so much to others, don't we?). It also suggests blessing. I can almost hear a very thankful grandmother after celebrating a delightful Thanksgiving dinner at her granddaughter's home, sighing: What a wonderful day. I feel so blessed.—Thank you, thank you, everyone.



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Dan Seagren is an active retiree whose writings reflect his life as a Pastor, author of several books, and service as a Chaplain in a Covenant Retirement Community.

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Posted: November 18, 2012   Accessed 228 times

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