Thankful for just one thing

Thursday is Thanksgiving, and it couldn’t arrive soon enough. It not only comes with our favorite foods, but it puts us in a positive frame of mind. Who couldn’t use that? After a contentious election cycle, the likes of which we’ve never seen and with which we are still grappling, isn’t it time to allow some turkey and sweet potato pie to warm our hearts?

Different families observe different traditions, but one that many homes embrace at the Thanksgiving table is the sharing of reasons to be thankful. If this isn’t on the list of your family rituals, consider it. Everyone — from the little ones to the elderly — gets to pick just one thing for which they are thankful and share it.

We typically overlook or underplay the many blessings God has bestowed upon us. Never was this more obvious to me than when, as a teacher, I would assign a writing assignment in which students had to detail something positive. It was like pulling teeth. But flip the script and ask for an essay on something negative — the worst day of your life, the teacher you cannot stand, the Christmas present you always wanted but never received — and the ideas ran down like water off a mountainside.

So the cool thing about the “one thing I’m thankful for” exercise is that as we adhere to the rule — just one thing — we soon discover that it’s not easy narrowing down our list. The more time we’re given to think, the more things we think of. And as we listen to others share their one thing, we realize that we can add their one thing to our list of things. “Where do I even begin?” we find ourselves contemplating. “How do I pick just one thing — and which one should it be?”

Just a few days ago, a feeling of gratitude swept over me. Nothing in particular sparked it. I hadn’t gotten any great news. In fact, I believe I was wrapped up in the monotony of work, the daily grind that so often leaves me worn out, frustrated and thinking, “There’s got to be more than this.” But out of nowhere, I just felt grateful. Aloud, I began to thank God — for health, for work, for a home, for loved ones.

Those in tune with what is going on in the world find ourselves concerned because, frankly, the more aware we are, the more concerned we become.

My job doesn’t afford me the privilege of burying my head in the sand. Headlines from around the globe, not just the United States, are ever before my eyes — and it doesn’t stop for the holidays. It doesn’t know that it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas or my birthday, for that matter. While most will have the day off on Thursday enjoying family, I will be working. I’ll be digesting and editing the news — much of it tragic. Nonetheless, I must determine to be thankful, to reflect on my blessings and to encourage others.

So let me start by encouraging you. On Thursday, put politics aside because y’all know how it can get when everyone gets together for the first time after an election. It can get uber-ugly — so make up your minds now to behave yourselves then. When Uncle Timmy trashes Trump or Cousin Shanequa criticizes Clinton, maybe you should be the one to change the subject — fast: “Hey, how ’bout this turkey? Didn’t Momma do a great job? And these greens…She sure put her foot in ’em this year! Don’t be rude; y’all better tell Momma how good this food is!” In case you’re unfamiliar with the expression, “put her foot in ‘em” means she cooked up something wonderful! If that doesn’t work, may I suggest screaming “Fire!” and running out the house? When everyone realizes it was a false alarm, they’ll truly be thankful! Hey, whatever it takes to keep the attitude of gratitude, it’s worth it. Just get ’er done.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” This, of course, does not mean we give thanks for everything. Sometimes, it means giving thanks in spite of everything. And notice that it’s a command, not merely a suggestion. It would behoove us to obey because a thankful heart is a benefit not only to ourselves, but to those around us, as well — and isn’t that what matters most?

So what “one thing” are you thankful for?

Adrienne Ross is an author, speaker, columnist, editor, educator and Southeast Missourian editorial board member. Reach her at aross@semissourian.com.