Giving Thanks
Mon, November 25, 2019 
If you will indulge me during this Thanksgiving Season. I would like to share my thoughts about giving thanks and why I think it is a good idea to simply say thank you for the good things that happen in life.
Does one have to have someone or something to say thank you to, another person or a Deity? You can, although not necessarily. By saying “Thank you” one is simply acknowledging that good things do happen. Because, no matter how bad a person’s life might be, there are a few good moments, and by saying thank you, one is recognizing those moments.
Let’s say a person has a totally shitty day, where just one thing after another went wrong. The highlight of his whole day was when someone smiled and gave him a kind word. By giving thanks for that moment, he not only recognizes something positive, he relives that moment. That can only be a good thing.
Giving thanks is a bit like forgiving someone, one does it for oneself more than for the person one is forgiving. For example, my father and I had a terrible relationship. He beat me physically and not necessarily because I had done something wrong, but in order to vent his own frustrations.
I tried to forgive him while he was alive, but he would not agree he did anything wrong. He said he had done it for my own good and used the fact that I had turned out okay as proof he was right. I had to wait until after he died to forgive him. This I did for my own sake, because clinging to the resentment only continues the punishment, over and over again.
One man offers up a thank you prayer to his God, another simply says thank you to himself or to no one in particular. Are the two not doing the same thing, for what is a prayer but a positive thought, and a positive thought is but an unspoken prayer?
If life is good, say thank you. Even if a person is suffering physically or from depression, they can always find something good that happened sometime, and say thank you. If you utter but one prayer this Thanksgiving or indeed any day. And whether that prayer be spoken or unspoken, let it be Thank you.
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Reader Comments (6)
Nice sentiments, we all have something to be thankfull for and it does us good to stop, quietly reflect and acknowledge the good in life.
Dave for me EVERY BLOODY DAY IS THANKSGIVING 86 years to be thankful for SO FAR? Thanks to you mate, for your forgiveness and understanding From Marcia and ME best wishes to Kathy AND YOU Friends are what life is all about. have a good one and the same to ALL the readers of your great Blog Thanks to all
Forgiveness: it's not easy.
Thank YOU, Dave, for all the good reading the year 'round! Monday mornings would no-way be the same without your thoughts!
Thank you, Dave, for your thoughtful comments.
On Dec 4 will be the 400th anniversary of the American Thanksgiving day. Note that those celebrating were from England!
Thanks Dave for creating this blog with all the great information that would otherwise be "lost" among the ignorant!