5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7
Ah, it’s that time of year again. We willingly suspend belief and head over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving Day. We continue in the dream for a while, helping Grandpa bring in the cut wood, breathing deeply of the smell of a wood fire and the aromas of turkey and apple pie. It’s a lovely dream. And for some people, it isn’t fantasy; it’s how Thanksgiving unfolds in their home. Yet many of us have very different experiences.
- Uncle Hal, itching for a fight, baits anyone within 5 feet of him with the most outlandish and offensive “just my opinion” observations.
- The chief cook is in the kitchen trying to figure out why the turkey is half raw while one of the children slaps another, with ensuing tears inevitable. There is a level of tension while everyone tries to be on their best behavior (well, except Uncle Hal.)
- However, some will sit alone, with a turkey sandwich and telephone nearby, waiting for a call from their children.
- Others, whose families are far away, (or too exhausting to engage) have begun celebrating “Friendsgiving” by creating their own traditions – sans Grandma.
Yet, no matter how Thanksgiving Day unfolds, or who sits around the table, I have noticed that almost always, at some point, (often when the food is on the table – getting cold,) someone will invite everyone around the table to pause for a moment to share what they are thankful for. A couple of snide under the breath comments later and someone starts things off.
On occasion, certainly not always, but on occasion, for the briefest of moments, the tenor of the conversation changes. Folks adjust in their chairs, a different kind of listening develops, and remarkably heads begin to nod in agreement. Giving thanks has done its work once again. The act of giving thanks changes our perspective. We give thanks for someone, something, or some action that has been bestowed on us. Thanksgiving changes the focus of attention. The gift given and the one who gives it become the subject of the story, and we become the Object.
When we choose to thank God, another shift happens. We think about others differently. We find more to give thanks for. We are less focused on ourselves. As we pay attention to others, they become more interested in us. Maybe laughter and joy become contagious. Experiencing an attitude of gratitude lightens the mood, deepens the love, and opens doors to relationships.
