Two weeks ago, at a craft fair, I saw a beautiful, hand-painted sign that read, “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” I gazed at it, walked away, then returned to gaze some more. I was drawn by the words, the message, yet something set me back. Something about that last word: enough.
Enough for what?
Enough to make us content with what we have? Enough that we aren’t constantly yearning for more?
Count Your Blessings, Name Them One by One
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, rivaled only by Christmas. I love that our nation sets a day aside for gratitude (although it’s easy to forget that’s what “Turkey Day” is supposed to be about, what with the shopping, football, and tryptophan).
While my kids might rattle off “blessings” like Legos, Tinkerbell underpants, and the Rainbow Loom, my thankfulness flows toward the precious relationships in my life – God, Tim, my family and friends – and the ability to care for those I love.
Unlike so many children, mine will sleep in warm beds tonight, surrounded by strong walls and a solid roof to protect them from cold and rain. They’ll sleep soundly because their bellies will be full instead of gnawing from hunger. Their sleep won’t be disturbed by bedbugs, gunfire, or predators. And when they awake tomorrow, they’ll eat yet another nutritious meal before heading to school – with lunch and snacks in hand – to learn skills that will enable them to one day provide and care for their own families.
So yes, I am thankful. And gratitude is a wonderful thing.
But…
Is Gratitude Enough?
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”
I didn’t buy the sign, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it, either. Have we cheapened thankfulness, defining it by a culture of excess? Isn’t gratitude meant to be more than a suppressant for greed?
What if thankfulness is a call to action? Maybe the sign was right – gratitude does turn what we have into enough. Not enough to stop coveting, but enough to start giving.
Today I’m thankful for a hand-painted sign that made me rethink the meaning of thankfulness. Because now I realize gratitude isn’t really gratitude until it overflows in a stream of generosity.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. May gratitude turn what you have into more than enough.
We’re rivers, not reservoirs.
~Bob Goff
That line: gratitude is meant to be more than a suppressant for greed. So so true! Thanks for giving me food for thought as I get ready for Thanksgiving.
Glad to add a little more “food” to the menu this week. 🙂 (Couldn’t resist!) Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh my word, Alison, these are the same thoughts I’ve been ruminating on for about a week. Shouldn’t thankfulness prompt a response–specifically a response to give? Just as you read a sign, I read an article talking about thanking veterans and the seeming hollowness of that bi-annual act, which then got me thinking about thankfulness in general, then I was probably distracted by needing to wipe a rear-end or chase down my daughter’s library book in the bowels of our basement. You know, the usual. But you managed to beautifully put into words what my mind could not tease out and articulate. Thank you. (Yes, I am thankful, and will act upon said thankfulness by sharing this post. Look! I’m growing!)
I love how these things are at work in our minds at the same time! So interesting about veterans. I admit I hadn’t thought about that, but I suppose there are plenty of examples when we think about it. Mother’s Day, for one! 🙂 Shouldn’t we be expressing our appreciation and gratitude every day of the year? The holidays are nice, but they should be catalysts to something more, not excuses to do less. Thanks for sharing!