To My Magnificent Agents, Staff and Friends:
“The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.” – H. U. Westermayer
I came across this powerful Thanksgiving quote this week. It is attributed to a person I never heard of, however, that did not diminish the power that his words had in provoking my thoughts about the correlation between sacrifice, giving thanks, and gratitude. Can we truly be grateful for our many blessings without ever actually experiencing loss, trials, tribulations or sacrifice? I think this is an important question that we can all ponder this Thanksgiving.
I know several people who are close to my heart that are currently enduring grave illnesses either personally or by loved ones. I know that none of them are grateful for what they are going through, yet in each and every case they have noted that, beyond the experience of pain, horror and grief that the affliction has wrought, there are always blessings. These include a stronger manifestation of the love and appreciation they have for their soul mates who care for them, a profound appreciation of the power and strength derived from friends and relatives who gather both in person and in prayer on their behalf, and a stronger sense of the destiny that awaits us all beyond our mortal tenure.
Virtually every American today feels a profound sense of gratitude for the young men and women who serve us in uniform. That feeling often compels us to approach soldiers we have never met and express our thanks for their service and sacrifice.
When we volunteer our time or donate money in support of organizations that care for the less fortunate and we feel that we are giving back in gratitude for what we have been given, we are essentially embracing the idea there is a correlation between sacrifice and gratitude. Simply put, we get by giving.
By definition, a sacrifice requires effort, commitment and investment on our part. A sacrifice does not happen by accident. It entails our ultimate acceptance of responsibility.
Our Christian foundation is rooted in the conscious and intentional sacrifice of Our Lord as the ultimate expression of His love for us. For that, we give thanks.
Our founding fathers endeavored to create a nation wherein its citizens could enjoy the freedoms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That certainly should evoke thanks and gratitude from every American. However, those enlightened individuals who envisioned such a unique country and government, were well aware of the sacrifice that might be required to attain it. In fact, while much attention is given to the freedoms espoused in our Declaration of Independence, very little attention is paid to the last line of that cherished document – the line under which all affixed their signature. It reads:
These were not hollow words. Each of the signers of the Declaration of Independence knew that if their cause was lost to the English monarchy, they would most certainly be hanged, their possessions would be confiscated, and their names would be forever associated with treason.
The intentional willingness to sacrifice reaps reward and favor and gives reason for thanks giving. That is a principle written throughout history but seems both muted and absent in much of our entitled society today. The thankful heart is not necessarily an unburdened one, but it is one where it’s burden cannot outweigh its acknowledgement of and gratitude for the blessings that surround abound despite any given circumstance.
“None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.” – Fred de Witt Van Amburgh
Have a wonderful and AWE-full Thanksgiving!
Bill Bacque