On Thankfulness
G.K. Chesterton
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”
I can spend this article writing whimsy and happy thoughts. I could travel through time and record historical events behind the holiday of Thanksgiving. Or I could do an amazing writeup about how to decorate, cook, bake, or entertain for Thanksgiving. However, not everyone who reads this article lives in the United States. Not everyone has a holiday called Thanksgiving. So I am going to concentrate on points of view on thankfulness over the course of human history.
Charlotte Bronte
“For my part, I am almost contented just now, and very thankful. Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.”
. Date: 1546 – 1576. Object ID: RP-P-2011-57.
Gaspare Oselli, mentioned on object, print maker, Italiaans (1536–)
Photo compliments of Rijksmuseum
Maya Angelou
“Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”
Dr. Suess
“You ought to be thankful a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you’re lucky you’re not!”
Helen Keller
“There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark.”
Charles Finney
“A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart.”
R. Kent Hughes
“The height of devotion is reached when reverence and contemplation produce passionate worship, which in turn breaks forth in thanksgiving and praise in word and song.”
Photo compliments of Pxfuel
Finally to quote the greatest of all quotes –
The Holy Bible
I Thessalonians 5:18a “In everything give thanks…”
For everyone, American or not, near of far, Happy Thanksgiving! Be blessed.
