Reflection on Thanksgiving — Issue 6

As we gather around tables this Thanksgiving, we are invited to pause and consider the deeper meaning of gratitude. Thanksgiving gently turns our eyes to what we have, who is in our lives, the experiences we have had, the joyous moments, and the blessings that surround us each day. Thanksgiving invites us to be grateful.

Thankfulness is more than a courteous “thank you” when someone holds the door for you as you pass through. It is a genuine posture of the heart that grounds hope and helps us see life more clearly, even on the cloudiest of days. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us: “Give thanks in all circumstances.” This doesn’t mean we must find thanksgiving in hardship, but that we can find goodness, grace, and growth even through hardship.

As a priest, I have had the humble experience of walking with people in both joyful and painful times. What has always blessed me when walking with people who have faced the most tragic of moments is when they still see the blessing in the moment, always thanking God. Gratitude does not erase our pain, but it helps us carry it with perspective and grace.

This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take a moment with your families and friends to reflect on what you are thankful for, not just the “A” on your exam or the goal you scored in the hockey game. My prayer for you is to dig deeper with gratitude and openly share your reflections.

May your Thanksgiving be filled with peace, grace, love, and a renewed sense of appreciation for the blessings in your life. I am thankful for each and every one of you in my life as Chaplain—you are all a blessing to me.