A Heart of Thanksgiving. By Dave Cano.
My three favorite holidays have always been Thanksgiving, Christmas, and July 4th. Memorial Day and Easter have sacred and personal significance, but Thanksgiving has always stood out as a day that embodies a mindset that can be applied and celebrated every single day of the year. Of all the virtues that I’ve seen exhibited by the wonderful people I’ve known in my life, it is the sense of gratitude that seems to hold a very distinct and mysterious superpower. A person who walks in a state of gratitude, or at the very least understands the importance of being grateful for their blessings, carries an emotional and personal reservoir of great strength. That strength can help them overcome so many of the challenges and stressors that present themselves on their life journey. Courage is special, but it’s usually best reserved for critical moments. Integrity is paramount, but its major effects are typically displayed under tests of moral character. Kindness is fundamental to being a good person, but you usually need another person to be kind towards, for it to be displayed. But the mindset of gratitude is an incredibly powerful and permanent 24/7 mental state that influences every thought, attitude and action a person takes in all circumstances. If a person is simply grateful to be alive, they automatically have an edge in any situation. The degree of one’s personal health, financial situation, or the state of their personal relationships can also be a source of gratitude. Thanksgiving Day reminds us of the incredibly good things in our lives we take for granted far too much.
Like July 4th, Veterans Days, and Memorial Day; Thanksgiving has a distinct American imprint. In the early 1600’s, pilgrims, settlers, and travelers arrived in the continental United States, mostly Virginia and Massachusetts seeking a new start. Most of the Pilgrims came from England and were seeking religious freedom as well as an opportunity to begin a new chapter in their lives. Their objectives were based on a desire for greater self-reliance along with a focus on establishing new bonds and communities with their fellow faith brethren. These new alliances such as the Mayflower compact of 1620 emphasized the importance of mutual support and hard work. Those precepts would be essential for survival in a new land and wilderness. Faith in God, dedicated prayer, and families were to be the foundation of a new society in this vast and bountiful country. God’s protection and providence along with their hard work and diligence were important in establishing peace treaties, along with commercial and trade relations with the nearby Native American tribes. As time passed and the population of the colonies grew, America eventually became a nation and the American Thanksgiving holiday become official in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln.
Like every sensory experience and flavor that each holiday brings, Thanksgiving brings its unique touch. For our family and like so many others, the turkey, dressing, side dishes, and pumpkin pie is a classic and enduring stable. As Dallas Cowboys fans, we always get an extra treat of a football game and the Salvation Army halftime show. Some of my favorite Thanksgiving memories were sharing the flavors of an American thanksgiving meal to European and Japanese families while were stationed overseas during my Naval career. Though the sights and flavors are terrific, I would be remised if I didn’t mention that the main reason Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday is because of the attitude and sentiment it reminds us of. In Philippians, Chapter 4, the Apostle Paul states, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests before God”. Those words came from a man who suffered and endured several forms of adversity including physical beatings, imprisonments, a major shipwreck, and overall persecution in order to accomplish his mission of spreading the Christian gospel.
Some of the most haunting memories that have left permanent scars on my psyche were witnessing the loss of life from extremely young persons in Iraq and Afghanistan amidst very difficult circumstances. It is difficult to explain the effect of seeing young brave people pass and never get a chance to enjoy life like I have been able to. But at the same time, a sense of honor and loyalty to their memory compels me to be grateful for every second of time I am privileged to experience in this life journey. Thanksgiving serves as a reminder that no matter how tough things may get in life, I am still breathing, walking, talking, and most importantly that I am loved by God who sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for me providing salvation and the gift of eternal life. Those are things to be extremely thankful for.