Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving: Day 1

Reading:

“Gratitude can transform any situation. It alters your vibration, moving you from negative energy to positive. It’s the quickest, easiest, most powerful way to effect change in your life…” Oprah Winfrey [1]

Reflection:

The focus of Thanksgiving is (supposed to be) Gratitude. Developing a sense of gratitude is a key to experiencing God’s presence in all situations. When we are grateful, our hearts and minds are better able to notice the abundance of reasons to be thankful. We all know people who seem always to find something to criticize or complain about. They tend to judge everything by pointing out what is missing instead of what is present. Those who develop an attitude of gratitude, on the other hand, see what is right and good and possible. For example, my Grandma Hildenbrand always treated me as the person she believed I could become, which was often a far cry from the person I was at the time. Decades after her passing, her vision continues to encourage and inspire me.

A lot of being grateful has to do with first impressions. If we first look favorably on something or someone, we are much more likely to notice additional goodness. The opposite is true if our first impression is negative. One way to become a more grateful person is to be intentional about finding something positive about any situation right away. Constructive criticism, if necessary and appropriate, can wait.

Closing Meditation:

Journal the names of three persons, past or present, for whom you are thankful and why.

In your mind or heart, silently hold the image of one of your chosen people.

Offer a spoken or silent prayer of thanksgiving and gratitude for these influential souls.

This daily series, Contemplative Christmas, is replacing my weekly Life Notes until January 6, 2025, when my weekly blog will resume. The thoughts expressed here are mine. To engage with me: ghildenbrand@outlook.com.

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[1] Oprah Winfrey, What I Know For Sure, 2024.