Is Thanksgiving the one holiday we can all agree on?

Is Thanksgiving the one holiday we can all agree on? We all understand the need to be thankful. But thankful to whom?

You might be thankful to your employer for your job and the money you make that provides for yourself and possibly a family. Or you may be thankful for your children whether they are babies or adults.

You might be thankful to your landlord for reasonable rent or a spouse that puts up with your shortcomings. Or you might be thankful for your pets.

You may be thankful to a teacher that has helped you get closer to your goal of a degree. You might even be thankful for your car that actually starts when you turn the key in the ignition.

Copyright 2016 Pam Spano. All rights reserved.

I have oftened wondered, if you're not grateful to God, who are you grateful to? It's like this picture of the leaf. The leaf is imprinted in the concrete without any color. Some would say nature gives the leaf its color, but where does nature come from?

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I found this in my Magnificat:

"Thanksgiving" is the meaning of the Greek word "Eucharist." The attitude of thankfulness is central to Christian spirituality. The debt of gratitude we owe for God's faithful love can be repaid only in a two-sided coin: turning to God in thanksgiving and doing for others what has been done for us.

We could argue this all day long, but today of all days, maybe being thankful is enough. For those of you who are thankful to God, I give you this prayer:

Father in Heaven, Creator of all and source of all goodness and love, please look kindly upon us and receive our heartfelt gratitude in this time of giving thanks.

Thank you for all the graces and blessings. You have bestowed upon us, spiritual and temporal: our faith and religious heritage. Our food and shelter, our health, the loves we have for one another, our family and friends.

Dear Father, in Your infinite generosity, please grant us continued graces and blessing throughout the coming year.

This we ask in the Name of Jesus, Your Son and our Brother. Amen. - From Catholic.org

Thanksgiving is the one holiday we can all agree on. If you do not believe in God, I am glad you are thankful for the people and circumstances in your life. However, I hope you will look deeper to see the source.

What are you thankful for?  Who do you wish you were thankful for and why?

Copyright 2016 Pam Spano