The voices of the world are loud and showy. These voices lie to us saying that who we are and what we have are not enough. Images flash constantly before our eyes enticing us to compare and come up lacking. The voices and images bombard us with messages that in order to be happy, attractive, popular, or have value, we must have a new car, look a certain way, our music must be louder, our personalities must be bolder, our gatherings must be bigger, our conversations more exciting, our houses need remodeling, and…can you think of more?
Have you heard these lies? Have you fallen for them? Even a little bit deep on the inside where no one sees, but you feel somehow less than the standard of muchness and manyness? Have you internalized the messages that say your value is in how happy you are, how attractive you are, how big your house is, how exciting your vacations are, how crowded your church is, how many are at your holiday gatherings, or how extensive your list of followers is on Instagram? Billboards along the highway, magazines on the racks, TV shows and commercials in the waiting rooms and restaurants, ads on our phones, false fronts on social media…the voices surround us! Sometimes we feel caught in a whirlpool and can’t swim out. It’s almost enough to knock the wind out of you!
Take a deep breath. Yes, the voices of the world are loud, chaotic, and seemingly inescapable, but we don’t have to be victims. We do have a choice. One way I have found to be an antidote, an escape, from the harmful and unhealthy messages of the culture in which we live, is to practice being thankful.
Gratitude shifts our focus from the lie of "not enough" to the goodness and simplicity that is already present in our lives. Usually the things that bring us true joy are small, everyday blessings like our family and relationships, a warm bed, a mug of hot coffee first thing in the morning, a bowl of hearty stew on a cold day, the birds enjoying seeds from the birdfeeder. The list of gratitudes has no limits.
One way to practice gratitude is by writing down that for which we are thankful in a journal. It's often called a “gratitude journal.” It’s a form of prayer. As we nurture this practice, the world’s voices begin fading away. As joy, delight, and peace become the dominant emotions, we notice an inner calm, deeper breathing, less anxiety. Focusing on the beautiful blessings right in front of us trains us to discern what is most valuable and important.
Here’s a peek inside my gratitude journal on this Thanksgiving morning:
I’m thankful for time to sit quietly, easing into the day with a cup of coffee and a candle burning.
I’m thankful we have freedom in this country, where it is not a crime to think, have an opinion, believe the way we choose to believe.
I’m thankful for my calico cat who faithfully sits next to me or on my lap, at least for a little while, every morning.
I’m thankful for our dog and how his big brown eyes remind me of trust and unconditional love.
I’m thankful we have enough food to eat, a way to keep it cold, and a way to cook it. Having the power go out for days has taught me not to take these conveniences for granted.
I’m thankful for houseplants that surround us with cheer and remind us of living, growing things, even as the seasonal dial turns toward winter.
I’m thankful for my 88 year old mother who has a sharp mind and a thankful heart, who, just yesterday read a poem aloud to me and reminisced about the feeling of freedom she had ice skating at an outdoor rink as a young adult.
There are so many things for which to be thankful, from chickadees to our most important relationships. When we get quiet and intentionally think about it, the things that come to mind, what truly brings joy and contentment are usually not big ticket items. Instead, they are the little things, often free and priceless, like songbirds on the deck, time, and family. Some things cost money, like a house, but it’s not the house in and of itself for which we are thankful; it’s the intrinsic value it provides - a place of safety and belonging, sanctuary from the world, a place to be ourselves with the people we love. Usually, the things for which our heart wells up with gratitude are the things and people, ideas and concepts, that really matter, and they are usually simple and abstract. They often shine a light on our obsession with orchestrating our lives, moving us toward relinquishing control and realizing how utterly dependent we truly are on God, without whom we would not have life at all.
Gratitude is a gateway to peace. It is a demonstration of trust and dependence on God. It can squelch greed and neutralize worry. It is a pathway to relinquishment, and its fruit is contentment. This Thanksgiving Day is a perfect time to begin or revive the practice of being thankful.
A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues. - Cicero
Here are some practitudes (practices to form your attitudes) to get you started:
Step outside at night, look up at the sky, and say “Thank you for the stars!”
In the morning, as you stumble to the coffeemaker, notice the liquid gold spilling through the window, and pray “Thank you for the sunrise, for a new day, for life!”
Go for a short drive just before sunset, find an open area, and watch the sky turn all shades of pink, purple, and gold. Whisper in awe, “Thank you, God, for showing me these colors, for painting the sky, for taking my breath away with beauty!”
Stop your busy pace and stand still in your living room. Let it sink in how thankful you are for your home, a comfortable, safe place to live.
Click this link to enjoy listening to George Winston’s piano solo, Thanksgiving, on YouTube
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.” ~ Philippians 4:6-8
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." ~ Matthew 6:26-28
Gratitude is the sign of noble souls. - Aesop
by Heather J. Willis, author
Read on my husband Paul's site his complementary piece, The Christmas Choice.
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