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Gratitude Leads To Happiness
Officially, Thanksgiving Day in the United States is not a religious holiday. However, those who give thanks on that holiday are, in my opinion, engaging in a religious act.
If I were pressed to reduce the entire meaning of religion to just one word, that one word for me would be thanks.
We have nothing that we have not received. All we can be is grateful. On Thanksgiving Day, those who have a formal church affiliation typically include in their Thanksgiving celebration participation in a church service. Those who belong to Eucharistic communities normally celebrate the Eucharist as their best way of giving thanks. Interesting, isn't it, that in celebrating the Euchaist believers are giving thanks, saying thanks, and ritually doing thanks.
Less so now, but common in the American vernacular of fifty years ago, the expression "much obliged" was used to say "thank you." To say you are "much obliged" is to say that you are grateful. The implications of that are worth reflecting upon now. A grateful people will feel an obligation toward others--toward God (for believers) the source of all we have, and toward those less fortunate than we--toward those with less, especially those in need. If gratitude dominated the minds and shaped the values of the majority of the population, what a wonderful world it would be! Gratitude can be the foundation for the exercise of morality.
I think it is impossible for anyone to be simultaneously grateful and unhappy. So the solution to much of the unhappiness that humans experience is a reawakening in the human heart of the idea of gratitude. That's why I think it is a great idea for non-believers to celebrate Thanksgiving. Let anyone start expressing and experiencing gratitude--if not vertically toward God, at least horizontally toward others in the human community--and you'll find that person holding a new lease on happiness.
By
William J. Byron
|
November 22, 2006; 4:15 PM ET
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Posted by: opt leads mlm | May 12, 2007 9:24 PM
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Reverend Sir,
I consider your statement "Let anyone start expressing and experiencing gratitude--if not vertically toward God, at least horizontally toward others in the human community" as highly relevant and true in the present day context.
I was deeply touched by way a small Christian Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pa had recently shown us the way how to express our gratitude to Him for all that He has given us. Their extremely sincere commitment to Jesus Christ as their Lord and their Shepherd is worth emulating.
"How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world".
Regards,
S.Srinivasan
Posted by: S.Srinivasan | November 22, 2006 10:54 PM
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reverend, thank you. i am 10 years beyond a stage IV cancer, every dawn since then begins
with 'lord god, father in heaven, grandfather
of this great universe, accept my humble thanks
for this opportunity to live and breathe one more
day in remission...in the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost...amen.'
Posted by: arctic angel | November 22, 2006 8:23 PM
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"Let anyone start expressing and experiencing gratitude--if not vertically toward God, at least horizontally toward others in the human community--and you'll find that person holding a new lease on happiness."
Indeed Sir, indeed. Perhaps a good place to start in all Human affairs, without regard for whatever our neighbors believe.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 22, 2006 5:26 PM
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Gratitude is where it all begins. If you start in that place then your life can flourish from blessings, un-expected luck, and an abundance of good company.
Posted by: Druid | November 22, 2006 5:03 PM
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In my local paper today, one cartoon reproduced what I consider a wonderful quote:
"If the only prayer you say in your life is "thank you," that would suffice." --Meister Eckhart
Posted by: fern | November 22, 2006 4:43 PM
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