Thanksgiving Reflections

When the archangel, Raphael, finally revealed his identity to Tobit, he said to him, “One must declare the works of God and give thanks with due honor” (Tobit 12:7). And Tobit responded, in part, “Now consider what [God] has done for you, and give thanks with full voice. Bless the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of the ages.”


There is a rightness to this – and it’s good for us, too!


In past years for this Thanksgiving column, I’ve come up with lists of many things for which I’m grateful, which are all saved on my computer. I took the time to review them before sitting down to write this to you. Curiously, just reading them made me happy all over again. But that actually makes sense. Studies by therapists demonstrate consistently that gratitude, helps our sleep, lifts our mood, and boosts our immunity to sickness. If we are unhappy, thankfulness lessens our depression. It reduces our anxiety, and decreases the effects of chronic pain. And, as I experienced myself, according to Harvard Health Publishing, giving thanks helps us be happier.


One exercise, in particular, had a most profound effect – writing and personally delivering a letter of gratitude to a person in your life who deserved, but didn’t receive, sufficient thanks for their kindness. This activity tested out as having one of the longest lasting contentment and happiness bumps. I encourage you to review the years of your life, and identify a few people to express, in letters, your deep appreciation for who they have been and what they have done for you, and experience the satisfaction that comes from that.


Of course, I can’t encourage you enough to express gratitude to your spouse, significant other, parents or children. They need to hear it, and we need to say it. Please don’t wait for people to reach out to you. Take the responsibility to establish contact with them, to share how you appreciate them, to hear what’s new in their lives, and to share what’s important in your own.


Above all, as Tobit learns and reiterates, gratitude to God is paramount. We’ve been told to make our requests of God for our needs, and it’s right that we should do so. Our prayer, though, needs to be much more than requests. Praise of God is always right, and so are prayers of gratitude. Every grace, every blessing, every talent, every joy is God’s gift to us. To take stock of them regularly, and to express our appreciation for them is right and just.

I hope that this Thanksgiving is a warm and happy time for you and your friends.


My prayer is that you have many, many reasons to be grateful, that your memory serves you well in recalling them, and that your relationship with God is renewed and strengthened as you give God thanks.


Siempre adelante,
​

Fr. Patrick Pastor 

---