Thanksgiving Day is a celebration of gratitude. It is a day that millions of people gather with family and friends to count the blessings they enjoy every day. It is also a holiday that is forgotten by countless millions of others who lose it somewhere in between Halloween celebrations and Christmas shopping trips.
It is sarcastically called Turkey Day in many circles, circumventing any hint of gratitude whatsoever. But gratitude is the center and purpose of celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Gratitude and Thanksgiving is good for the souls of every man, woman and child – to look upon their blessings and realize that life is not so bad.
The following are quotes from religious and inspirational resources (some followed by a little commentary) that teach the importance of showing gratitude, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of our lives. True gratitude is shown, not only to God and His Son for the blessings enjoyed on a daily basis, but also to those around us for the things they do for us to bless our lives. Spouses, children, family members, and friends should know they are appreciated for the things they do on a daily basis.
Thanksgiving Quotes and Commentary
“Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
– Psalms 100: 3-4
This passage from the Bible reminds the reader that God is the maker of all humanity; we were not the creator of God. Because we have the opportunity of life, we owe Him our thanks and gratitude.
“Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.”
– Doctrine & Covenants 59:7
This scripture encompasses all areas of life: good times, bad times, mediocre times. The central idea is that good times and bad are a blessing in disguise. Opposition in life can be a blessing as great or greater than a time without opposition. We may not see opposition as a blessing while in the middle of the problem, but when we emerge and look back at the situation, we may observe that some degree of personal growth occurred during that trying time.
“Gratitude expressed to our Heavenly Father in prayer for what we have brings a calming peace – a peace which allows us to not canker our souls for what we don’t have. Gratitude brings a peace that helps us overcome the pain of adversity and failure.”
– Robert D. Hales, “Gratitude for the Goodness of God,” Ensign, May 1992, 63
“Be grateful. When you walk with gratitude, you do not walk with arrogance and conceit and egotism, you walk with a spirit of thanksgiving that is becoming to you and will bless your lives. Be grateful. Be thankful to the Almighty for His wonderful blessings upon you.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley, “Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley,” 1997, 250
“Gratitude alone can keep you looking toward the All, and prevent you from falling into the error of thinking of the supply as limited; and to do that would be fatal to your hopes.
“There is a Law of Gratitude, and it is absolutely necessary that you should observe the law, if you are to get the results you seek.”
– Wallace Delois Wattles, The Science of Getting Rich, 1910.
Wattles touches here on the scarcity mindset that plagues modern society. The scarcity mindset dictates that there is not enough of the world's goods to go around. No matter how hard people work, scrimp, and save, they will never have enough. The attitude of gratitude is the most potent remedy to combat the scarcity mindset.
“You can also express gratitude to the Lord by the way you live. When you keep His commandments and serve others, you show that you love Him and are grateful to Him. Express appreciation to everyone who helps you in any way.”
– “Gratitude,” For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God, 6
“We can teach our children to be grateful for all the creations of our Heavenly Father…If we want our children to recognize these gifts from God, we must take the time to show our own appreciation for them.”
– “Lesson 35: Developing Gratitude,” The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part B, 303
“Gratitude is a fruit of great cultivation; you do not find it among gross people.”
– Samuel Johnson, Tour to the Hebrides. Sept. 20, 1773, John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful."
– Siddhartha Gautama
"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough"
– Oprah Winfrey
Conclusion
Everyone needs to give gratitude. When we show thanks, we also show love and compassion for those that are most important in our lives. On the other hand, we also need to learn to receive grattitude. Gratitude is like a gift. If a gift isn't received, then it is nothing and the giver feels like nothing, unappreciated. Always remember to be thankful throughout the year, and not just durng the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thanksgiving does not require a national holiday.
Sources:
Quotes about Thankfulness from Goodreads.com
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