EDITORAL: If you're truly blessed, prove it
Feeling grateful is one of life’s best blessings.
Showing that gratitude by sharing it with others?
That’s richer by far.
Covering both those bases, here are two humble suggestions for your Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow.
FEELING GRATEFUL
Put the phones away, turn off the football game and gather the gang around with hot drinks and plenty of eye contact. No distractions allowed.
Before your feast, everyone in the gathering is given a moment to express something they’re thankful for. There are no incorrect answers, and it’s entirely possible the expressions of gratitude from the youngest and oldest members of the congregation will be the most precious.
To avoid the possible embarrassment of post-prandial participants who might understandably nod off mid-sentence, this exercise in gratitude expression is best accomplished before the feast.
SHARING GRATITUDE
The expressions exercise is a step in the right direction.
This next one is a tremendous leap.
Have you read about the Mesa, Ariz., grandmother who accidentally texted the wrong person with her invitation to Thanksgiving dinner in 2016, believing she was contacting one of her grandchildren?
The young “stranger,” a high school student, showed up, and they’ve been getting together every Thanksgiving since then. (https://tinyurl.com/ycyehfmp)
While we’re not suggesting you text strangers and invite them into your home, we are planting a pumpkin seed that perhaps you can share your good fortune, no matter how modest it might be, with someone you know could use some kindness and companionship.
Maybe it’s a neighbor you say hello to in your apartment complex. It could be someone on the periphery of your social circle. But we’ll bet a homemade apple pie that you know someone whose holidays would brighten considerably by your warm Thanksgiving invitation.
Armed with coffee or hot chocolate before the meal, maybe they’ll further endow the blessings when they express their gratitude in the presence of their new friends.