What is Thankfulness?

This past weekend I got the opportunity to take some young men on a road trip to Indiana Wesleyan University. It was a great time, full of adventure, excitement and all around fun. While on the trip I got to visit with family and friends, ones that I have not seen in four years and others that I have not seen since I left Wilmore, KY. Getting to reconnect and talk about life made me become really thankful or appreciate the things I do have. Like friendship hear in North Carolina and friendships that will not change no matter how far away we may live from each other.

Wikipedia says, thankfulness “is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.” While this statement is true, I think that real thankfulness is much deeper than this. True “thankfulness” comes from the heart, soul, mind and strength, it comes from the whole being of the person. It is more than an emotion or attitude, it is part of a person’s character.

I am not trying to say that I or anyone who is truly thankful is better than anyone else. I am simply saying that those who know thankfulness experience life at a deeper level. When I started to see the faces of friends, I knew I was truly thankful and that my life was much deeper than I realized.

Saying “thank you” for someone who opened the door for you is great. Giving “thanks” before you eat your dinner tonight is wonderful, but are these just words? Or does your whole being express thankfulness? When you get ready to cut into that turkey on Thursday how will you express your thankfulness towards God, family and friends?

I believe it can be as simple as letting grandma get the last slice of pecan pie or letting your father set in the best sit to watch the big game. What ever the action or the words, do they comes from a passing emotional experience or do they come from something much deeper and lasting?

Special thanks to Jeremy B. for going on the trip to Indiana Wesleyan with me and the guys.