DON'T BE AFRAID TO SAY THANKS!
May the LORD bless you and protect you!
May the LORD let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!
May the LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace. (cf. Num 6: 24-26)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY
DON'T BE AFRAID TO SAY THANKS!
They say that gratitude characterizes noble and humble people. "Thank you" is one of the most beautiful and capacious words in the world. We should give thanks anytime, anywhere and for everything. Today we celebrate the nationwide Thanksgiving Day. This day was established primarily for historical and religious reasons. However, it is also worth thinking about gratitude personally. Each of us has something to thank for both God and people. Is it difficult? We learn it from childhood. Who among us has not witnessed such a situation, when someone gave something to a little toddler, and his mother then asked him/her: "And what should you say now?" The little boy/girl, smiling or embarrassed, whispered "thank you." This short word - if we only say it honestly - is full of joy, love and happiness. There is a lot of content behind it. Thank you, it means: it's good that you are; that you are helping me; that you want to get involved; that you are giving your time and skills.
This is Cultural and human
Today, the word "thank you" sometimes becomes completely foreign to us. Abundant in various goods, having more and more amenities, we want to be self-sufficient. We rely only on ourselves or assume that we deserve everything. We are very demanding. Why say thanks at the checkout in the store, at the office window? Why show appreciation for helping with one endeavor or another? Why thank mother for the dinner or for the ironed shirt to the wife? I remember the words of my friend with whom I traveled by bus. After leaving the vehicle, he said to me, “Did I say thank you to the driver? Probably not. I feel guilty because I always try to thank. " Our joyful "thank you" is a great reward to those to whom we send them; much more valuable than the material equivalent in the form of traditional chocolate or a flower. It is also an expression of our culture and good manners.
Not to be confused with debt!
We see what we have been gifted with as the years go by. We do not appreciate certain facts, people and situations immediately, but only after some time. From the perspective of months and years, it is easier to see the good that we received. Let us not say that we never received anything, that we were omitted by God, that we could not count on someone else's help. Let's look at the people around us, at specific people. Let's look at parents, spouses, children, friends, priests, acquaintances, our homes and work, our lives ... We were gifted to the maximum. How can we show appreciation? By being good, by smiling, shaking hands, by remembering, by a small gesture or by prayer. Gratitude is not arepayment and is not a debt. Let us not confuse these concepts. It's not about rematch, about giving something for something. We are not always able to accept good. When we experience help, we immediately consider what we will offer in return. We should remember, however, that we thank for good, not pay for it.
Everything is grace!
It is similar with thanking God. He doesn't need our thanksgiving, but since we love and believe in Him, it's worth expressing our gratitude to Him. We have something to thank for. Without His presence, we would be very weak. His kindness precedes our steps and deeds. To this day, I remember the words of the pilgrimage to Jasna Góra. I remember one priest saying: "Remember, the pilgrims are not owed anything." He reminded them to be grateful for every shard of good from God and people. St. Teresa of the Child Jesus kept saying that everything is grace. She explained that "gratitude is what most attracts God's graces; when we give thanks for the blessings, God is moved and rushes to give us ten new favors, and if we continue to thank with the same outpouring,His multiply graces are incalculable! ”. In turn, St. Faustina once heard from Jesus: “Do not stop being good evenwhen you notice that your goodness is being abused. I Myself will speak up for you when it is necessary. Be grateful for the smallest of My graces, because your gratitude compels Me to grant you new graces….”(Diary 1701). It's not about being good and getting something back. One has to be kind, selfless and grateful out of pure love.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit
The word "thank you" will never lose its value. It is not subject to fashions or time trends. It shows that we are not lonely islands, that our life - whether we like it or not - is connected with God and other people, that we need for ourselves. Gratitude restores faith in humanity, it becomes the bright face of our humanity, an expression of the sensitivity of the heart. A sincere "thank you" works for the giver and the recipient. This word sows joy, revives sympathy, makes the eye sparkle. I think it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, because since He enables us to be good and kind, He also gives us the virtue of gratitude. This attitude was encouraged in the Letter to the Colossians by St. Paul (cf. Col 3:15). Gratitude opens our hearts even wider and stronger to the needs of others. It transforms our view of many things and teaches us to be as good as bread. After all, asking and giving thanks is something natural, very human.
Be a person of thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a reminder that we are constantly gifted by other people and by God, that each of us should be a person of thanksgiving. What does it mean? Thatsomeone is thanking for everything, for each new day, for the new duties, for the people around him/her, for his/her life and health. The source of gratitude can be even ordinary, even absurd situations. You can thank for the bills, because they prove that we have a roof over our heads. An old lady said that she was thankful for her aching legs and spine, because they reminded her that she had spent her life actively and still could enjoy many things. Thanking, we appreciate what we have; we are built up in our humanity and we offer spiritual flowers to God.
From the heart, not a duty
Does Jesus expect Gratitude? The answer is the Gospel passage about the healing of ten lepers. Only one came back to say thank you. This did not escape the Teacher's attention. With what fascination he spoke of the woman who anointed His feet! The one to whom much has been forgiven loves more. The most beautiful thanksgiving is the Eucharist, whenwe participate in it as often as possible. Let us not regret the time we dedicate for Holy Mass. It seems to me that prayer is the most beautiful way to say "thank you" because we cannot always say everything aloud. In this form, we can thank God, but also man. I believe that such a "thank you" turns into a blessing that touches both sides. Gratitude is not an obligation, but the fruit of the presence of grace in us. We thank as much as God is in us ...
Until Tomorrow
fr. george