Posted November 22, 2007
On the Thanksgiving holiday, November 22, citizens of the United States will consider the things for which we are thankful. Many of us will say that we are thankful for life, our nation, our families, our friends, our homes and our possessions. But how long will we remain thankful? Is our thankfulness simply a momentary diversion not to be repeated until next year at this time?
If you're like most people, your thankfulness probably declines as time passes. Realizing this all too common human proclivity, I'm running a little experiment to measure my own thankfulness.
A few weeks ago I bought a new television. It's a vast improvement over my previous set. This one receives high definition programming—making the picture much sharper—and now I receive channels I previously didn't know existed. The first time I turned it on and saw all the improvements over my old set, I was very thankful. The bigger, clearer picture brought an immediate rush of gratitude.
Now that I've been watching my new television for a couple of weeks, I still enjoy it but I don't have the same initial thrill. The newness is wearing off. And at some point in the future, I know that I'll no longer think of it as new. It will simply be another possession. What I'm curious to see is how long it will take before my thankfulness for my new television evaporates.
In the big scheme of things, I have to acknowledge that a television set isn't all that significant. There are so many other things that are far more important and deserving my appreciation. The common adage, "He who dies with the most toys wins," isn't true. Jesus said, "…one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses'' (Luke 12:15).
Far more important than physical possessions are our relationship with God and our relationships with others. Jesus referred to these as the two great commandments (Matthew 22:37-39). And these relationships are supposed to be filled with thankfulness (Colossians 3:15-17). But as humans who quickly grow accustomed to blessings, how can we maintain a thankful attitude year round?
-
Thank God daily for all the good things He gives us. James wrote: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (1:17). What better gifts can there be than to be forgiven of all our sins and granted eternal life in a body that will never grow tired, get old or become sick? Psalm 95:2 urges us to "come before His presence with thanksgiving" and with only a little thought, surely we can find a long list of reasons to express appreciation.
-
Give God thanks before eating meals. Jesus and the Paul thanked God in prayer for the food they were about to eat (Matthew 15:36, Acts 27:36). Doing this helps reinforce a thankful attitude.
-
Thank others for their good deeds. As the proverb explains: "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so" (3:27).
-
Commit to a long-term effort to become more thankful. Thankfulness is a character trait that can be cultivated. As Isaiah 1:17 says, "Learn to do good." With a strong, on-going commitment, we can learn to be thankful.
Studies have shown that when we are thankful, there are positive benefits for us. According to Lauren Aaronson, "Gratitude is a sentiment we'd all do well to cultivate, according to positive psychologists, mental health clinicians and researchers who seek to help everyone create more joy in life. Feeling thankful and expressing that thanks makes you happier and heartier" ("Make a Gratitude Adjustment," revolutionhealth.com , Feb. 04, 2007).
Interestingly, our thankfulness also affects others. As Aaronson explains: "Even a simple 'thank you' spurs people to act in compassionate ways they might not otherwise consider. People thanked for giving directions help more willingly in the future, social workers who get thank-you letters visit their clients more often, and diners whose waiters write 'thanks' on the check give bigger tips. Call it corny, but gratitude just may be the glue that holds society together" (ibid.).
