Today, this Thanksgiving Day, I am grateful for family,
friends and favors.
With everything I am grateful for, there is heaps more I
know I miss. With everything that I have gained, there is equal amount of loss.
So why the gratitude?
The simple premise that it could be worse is usually satisfactory.
That itself is something to be thankful for, certainly.
But today I will delve in more. “Look at those worse off’
was always very unjust to me. Are you supposed to be happy that there are those
worse off? Or that it justifies that people should be worse off? It adds to my
distress that I cannot, nay, will not do anything, to help those in unfortunate
situations. The pain others are going through does not vindicate or alleviate mine.
I can only think that what we should also be grateful for is
the pain, the loss, the disappointment in our lives. It brings into sharp focus
what we do have, what blessings we had, and those that will come. Pain does not
only accentuate pleasure, (and the memories) it gives it meaning. Sorrow gives
us a depth of feeling and empathy that colors not only our lives, but others’
as well. Loss strengthens us in ways we never realize till that strength is
called for in the days ahead. Pain demonstrates that the regular little joys
that come to us routinely are of an immensity greater than big achievements and happy lifetime events. Every breath, every smile, every sip of water, every
ray of sunshine – is something joyous and joyful that we should embrace with
gratitude.
And more than anything, greater than any other learning,
grief and loss teach us to value what really is important. To be grateful for
the seemingly small miracles that show us the kindness of God (or nature, or universe
- if that’s your belief), to overlook the unnecessarily-enlarged little hurts,
to understand that though everything in this life is fleeting, there will
always be blessings coming to you.
And with thankfulness in my heart, I pray for and manifest
blessings on all those who need them, in any way and form they are wanted.
