Thanks & Giving – Two Words That Say It All

Today, Thursday November 25, 2021, many of us here in North America are celebrating an American Holiday called Thanksgiving. Though it’s origins date back to 1621 when the Plymouth colonist (an assortment of Pilgrims from Plymouth, England that came to the “New World” seeking religious and economic freedom aboard the Mayflower) and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations; now, 400 years later it has turned into a day of celebration with family, friends, football and food…lots of it. While enjoying this holiday period, let’s not forget the definitions of the words ‘Thanks’ and ‘Giving’; that combined form the name of this holiday.

THANKS – Grateful feelings or thoughts; gratitude: An expression of gratitude.

What are you thankful for? Tuesday, I wrote a Blog post titled “When...Then...” in which we discussed the value of being grateful for EVERYTHING that happens in our lives…both the perceived ‘good’ and ‘bad’. For in all of it, there is a seed of equal or greater benefit that can always be found when we collapse time and see or experience it first hand. On this day of gratitude, let's make sure to acknowledge all there is to be thankful for. I’ll share part of my list with you:

I’m thankful for the loves of my life, my wife Stephanie and daughter Mikayla! Words fall short to express how much I cherish and honor every moment we spend together living a life we absolutely love.
I’m thankful for my amazing family, a roof over my head, food in my Buddha Belly, reliable transportation, parents who provided me with an education and environment for success, and friends to share it all with. You are my 'why', heart and soul;-)
I’m thankful for having the ability to see, hear (albeit less than most), touch, taste and smell (a bit less post COVID), all the wonders of the world and to live in a country which provides me the opportunity to express my full potential to love what I do and do what I love.
I’m thankful for being sick and well, rich and poor, happy and sad, loved and despised, fulfilled and hungry, peaceful and anxious, and every possible emotional state to remind me that I am ALIVE while living here on earth!
I’m especially thankful for my enemies, difficult personalities and people, seemingly horrific events (such as this continued darn pandemic...Oy Vey), things I don’t understand and for ALL of the challenges that are presented to me daily so that I can become the person that is needed to fulfill a destiny that at its apex will hear these words from my father in heaven, “Well done my good and faithful Servant.”

GIVING – To make a present of; to grant or bestow by formal action; to put into the possession of another for his or her use; to commit to another as a trust or responsibility and usually for an expressed reason.

I truly believe that the real secret to living is ‘giving’. The fact of the matter is that though it seems counterintuitive, everything we ‘get’ is a reflection of what we have been ‘giving’. It is a spiritual principle, that like gravity, you don’t have to believe in for it to work. However, the benefit of understanding this principle is that you will reap rewards ten, a hundred, and a thousand fold compared to what you have given. YOU MUST GIVE FIRST, then have the FAITH to know that the bountiful harvest will come not on ‘your’ time but on God’s time. As long as you are attached to the outcome of when and how you receive your treasure, you will stop the very source that will otherwise return your fortune exponentially.

If you want love…give it first to yourself and then share it with humanity for all they are…and aren’t.
If you want money…give it first to yourself (save) and then share its abundance with people, causes and organizations you believe in.
If you want friends…be the friend that knows no boundaries in service to another in need.
If you want more prosperity…serve others with absolutely no expectation of a return.
If you want more wisdom…give up your positions on how things ‘should’ be. In so doing, you will realize how limitless possibilities are.

As you share this day with your family and loved ones, watched more football than should be legal, survived the ensuing food coma, and strategically plan your Black Friday shopping assault; let's not forget the ‘Thanks’ and ‘Giving’ that make up the name of the occasion!

Believe...