Praise and thanksgiving appear on these pages, with praise gaining large part of the discussion. Here the accent is on thanksgiving, even though it is difficult to praise without giving thanks, or give thanks without sensing worship. These implications prevent some persons from engaging thanksgiving or praise. Human pride/doubt is that strong. What does thanksgiving mean personally? Is it humbling in which another person is elevated or reduced? Gregg Easterbrooke made positive observations about gratitude which have been summarized: Psychological research suggests at least one important item of advice regarding the progress paradox: we should be more grateful. This matters not as a point of moralizing but as an issue of self-interest. Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress, and to achieve a positive sense of self, says Robert Emmons: People who describe themselves as feeling grateful to others, and grateful either to God or to nature for the gift of life, tend to have higher vitality and more optimism, suffer less stress, and experience fewer episodes of depression than the population as a whole.
Thanksgiving makes us better persons in many ways: including respect for others; gaining a balanced approach to society; cultivating spiritual life; reducing arrogance; and, stimulating attitudes of humility. Little wonder that Scripture emphasizes various attitudes and conducts that not only honor holy God, but contribute to better persons and quality of life in the natural context, including health and a sense of personal being/doing. The place of thanksgiving is major in both the New Testament and the Old. The Apostle Paul attached high value to thanksgiving, relating especially to prayer, and emerging personal joy. He found thanksgiving in want and abundance. It becomes a different way of life than that found in the person who relies on his own resources alone, needs nothing from anyone else in his view, and ends life psychologically crawling on his hands and knees. He looks for his peace in wealth, or power, or celebrity, or talent. He may believe he can pay for anything he wants, and believes he ought to be paid, and paid well, for all he does. Everything is measured in the terms of mammon. For him nothing is spiritual about it.
Summarizing interviews of lottery winners, a columnist was struck with the responses. One having taken the largest jackpot in history to that date said simply: I wish I had never bought the lottery ticket. There was little or no thanksgiving from friends and family that put wealth into perspective. The responses were: to seek donations; to bilk him of some of the fortune; to accuse him of selfish motives; and, to create ill will among family members. There is a lesson here for simple thanksgiving for strength to work, as much as one is thankful for the fruits of work or a windfall of fortune. What I invest in life is a thanksgiving goal. I have never forgotten the words: Unto me hateful is lightly won spoil. Praise and thank God for life. One of the best of all lessons in life is to become a thankful person, without obvious reason for doing so. I have never forgotten the story of the man in the Nazi detention camp who broke his one slice of bread each day and thanked God over it before eating, so lifted the hearts of other prisoners. Pause over that thought for a few moments – for life meaning. Pause over lunch today – for that meaning. I have been approached in restaurants by strangers telling me they have been touched by noting that there was prayer at the table where I was being served with others, likely with hands joined. This can all be traced to a feeling of thanksgiving. That feeling gains force and follow up of blessing when it is addressed to God Who gives to us even when we do not include Him. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020