Year 'Round Thanksgiving

Sister Christina finds inspiration to continue giving thanks throughout the year, especially in light of the busy season upon us.

We have embarked upon a time of year rich in tradition and in nostalgic memories for many of us. Soon it will be Advent, with its wreath, candles, and long nights. There will be popcorn to string for the Christmas tree (if your family keeps this tradition).

And today—today’s the day for getting your Christmas shopping done with crazy cheap prices, right? Maybe you were out already, or are planning to take advantage of “cyber Monday sales.”

But, what about Thanksgiving?

It seems that, more and more, yesterday’s special observance is being skimmed over. It’s here for a day, with its turkey and pumpkin pie, and then it’s gone. The pilgrims are put away for another year.

That’s unfortunate because our faith, especially as Catholics, tells us that Thanksgiving should be every day.

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God has given us so much, from our very lives to the food we eat … to the dwellings where we live … to the clothes on our backs. What’s more, He has given us our family and friends, our faith and the wonderful gift of the sacraments!

Isn’t it appropriate that the greatest gift of all, the gift beyond measure, the Eucharist, actually is named from a word meaning “thanksgiving?”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reflects beautifully on this topic:

Thanksgiving characterizes the prayer of the Church which, in celebrating the Eucharist, reveals and becomes more fully what she is. Indeed, in the work of salvation, Christ sets creation free from sin and death to consecrate it anew and make it return to the Father, for his glory. The thanksgiving of the members of the Body participates in that of their Head. (2637)

Personally, I find that I don’t give thanks often enough.

I more easily think of my needs and problems. It takes real effort to pause during my day to give thanks for the many blessings I have. I’m working on this (when I think of it), but I have a long way to go in making my thanksgiving more frequent and fervent.

Thankfully, there are countless Scripture verses which exhort us to gratitude, if we’re reading our Bible with any regularity, we will hopefully run into these reminders.

For example, Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the LORD for he is good, his mercy endures forever!” Actually, the psalms, in particular, are full of such exhortations.

Another verse which is very much in keeping with these sentiments is 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which says: “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Also, in the Letter to the Colossians, Paul reminds us to “[p]ersevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2).

It is interesting that, in his Letter to the Philippians, Paul contrasts thanksgiving with anxiety, perhaps suggesting an antidote for worry:

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. (Philippians 4:6)

That’s a good lesson for all of us, especially during stressful times, a good lesson as we begin an especially frenetic time of year.

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Our faith, especially as Catholics, tells us that Thanksgiving should be every day. #catholicmom

Today, in this short period of in-betweens, as we anticipate the start of the new liturgical year tomorrow evening, might be a good time to think about how you can incorporate thanksgiving into each day of your life.

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