Thanksgiving or Thanksliving

But how do we live thanksgiving? I found the answer to that question in an article written by Wilferd A. Peterson called, The Art of Thanksgiving. In this article he talks about acts of thanksliving. To quote from this piece, Mr Peterson writes:

"The art of thanksgiving is thanksliving. It is gratitude in action. It is applying Albert Schweitzer's philosophy: 'In gratitude for your own good fortune you must render in return some sacrifice of your life for the other life.'"

The article goes on to give examples of what how we could live in a thanksliving way:

- By living your life triumphantly

- By being grateful for all who have helped you by you doing things for others

- By striving to make others happy

- By helping to be an inspiration to others

- By living each day to the fullest

- By using your talents and obligations to be invested for the common good

- By facing the challenges of life as a challenge for achievement

- By enjoying what you have and sharing it with others

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all we have, but thanksliving is a way of life that if implemented could improve the quality of life not only for you and me, but for others. Do you live in a thanks giving way?

There are thousands upon thousands of people worldwide that would gladly give up their life to trade with you for your life, a life full of opportunity that just doesn’t exist in their world. Each one of these people desperately want a new life where they can live in peace, can work, can feed their families, can bring medical care to their children, can see new life where people are respected and valued and simply not seen as a scourge upon the government.

Those of us who are fortunate enough o be born into a country where freedom is guaranteed, where schooling is given and not a dream, where one can move from place to place without fear of being arrested or tortured, or shot dead. We who complain so often are the same ones that have more than can only be imagined by millions of others. We who take for granted what we see and do everyday always wanting more without even the slightest thought that we should have to pay for it or work for it.

The simple things we should be thankful for we ignore, the simple pleasures we take advantage of we just assume will always be there.



More thoughts on Thanksgiving which may inspire you and remind you to count your blessings. We hope you find words of wisdom in this poem and that the verses remind you to take the time to give thanks for all that you have.