Do not be afraid to give thanks!

Some say that gratitude characterizes noble and humble people. "Thank you" is one of the most beautiful and capacious words in the world. We must give thanks always, everywhere and for everything.

Today is Thanksgiving Day. This day was established primarily for historical and religious reasons. However, it is also worth thinking about gratitude in the personal dimension. Each of us has something to thank for, both to God and to people. Is it a difficult art? We learn it as children. Who among us has not witnessed such a situation when giving something to a little baby, and his mother asked him: " what do you say now?" The little one whispers with a smile or embarrassment: "Thank you". This short word - if we only say it honestly - is full of joy, love and happiness. There is a huge joy behind it. Thank you, that is: it is good that you are; that you are helping me; that you want to get involved; that you give your time and skills. The authentic "thank you" includes so much of respect and appreciation and just little bit of intimidation caused by the gift. To this day, I remember the prayer of Monsignor Paul Oledzki, my first pastor, who during many services said: "Let us pray for those who helped us in any way; for people who have done something good for us." How much wisdom and humility there was in it...

How to show gratitude? By being kind, by smiling, by shaking hands, by remembering, by small gesture or prayer. Gratitude is not retribution and being indebted. Let us not confuse these concepts. It is not about paying back, it's about giving something for something. We do not always know how to accept the good. When we receive help, we immediately wonder what we can offer in return. Remember, however, that good is thanked, not paid.

Everything is grace!

It is the same with thanking God. He does not need our thanksgiving, but since we love Him and believe in Him, it is worth showing our gratitude to Him. We have something to thank for. Without His presence, we would be very weak. His graciousness precedes our steps and deeds. To this day, I remember the words from the pilgrimage to Jasna Góra. I remember one of the fathers saying: "Remember, pilgrims deserve nothing". He reminded us to be grateful for every crumb of good received from God and people.

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus constantly said that everything is grace. She explained that "gratitude is what attracts God's graces the most; when we give thanks for the benefits, God is moved and rushes to give us ten new graces, and if we continue to give thanks with the same outpouring, how incalculable is the multiplication of graces!"

Saint Faustina, on the other hand, once heard from Jesus: " Do not stop (73) being good when you notice that your goodness is being abused. I Myself will speak up for you when it is necessary. Be grateful for the smallest of My graces, because your gratitude compels Me to grant you new graces…” (Diary 1701). It's not about being good and getting something in return. You have to be good, selfless and grateful out of pure love.

The Fruit of the Holy Spirit

The word "thank you" will never lose its value. It is not subject to fashions or temporal trends. It shows that we are not lonely islands, that our lives - whether we like it or not - are connected with God and other people, that we need each other. Gratitude restores faith in humanity, it becomes the clear face of our humanity, the expression of the sensitivity of the heart. A sincere "thank you" works both on the donor and on the recipient. This word sows joy, regenerates sympathy, evokes a twinkle in the eye. I think it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, because if He enables us to be good and kind, He also gives us the virtue of gratitude. This attitude was encouraged by Saint Paul himself in his Letter to the Colossians (cf. Col 3:15). Gratitude opens our hearts even wider and stronger to the needs of others. It is like a flywheel; it transforms our view of many things and teaches us to be as good as bread. I think we have ceased to be able to ask others to do good and to give thanks for the things we have received. Asking and thanking is something natural, very human.

To be a person of thanksgiving

Thanksgiving reminds us that we are constantly receiving from others and from God, that each of us should be a man of thanksgiving. What does this mean? Such a person thanks for everything, for each new day, for another portion of duties, for the people he has around him, for his life and health. The source of gratitude can be even ordinary, even absurd situations - even a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, because it means that we have what and with whom to eat. You can thank for the bills, because they prove that we have a roof over our heads. An old lady said that she thanked for her sore legs and spine, because they remind her that she spent her life actively and despite everything she can still enjoy many things. Such prosaic situations put us upright and silence the inner murmuring, which is, after all, the opposite of gratitude. By thanking, we appreciate what we have; we build ourselves in our humanity and offer spiritual flowers to God.

From the heart, not from duty

Does Jesus expect gratitude? The answer is the Gospel passage about the healing of ten lepers. Only one came back to say thank you. This did not escape the attention of the Teacher. With what fascination he spoke of the woman who anointed his feet! He, who has been given much, loves more. The most beautiful thanksgiving is the Eucharist. Let us participate in it as often as possible. It seems to me that prayer is the most beautiful way to say, "thank you", because we cannot always say everything aloud. In this form, one can thank God, but also man. Every day, I say to God "Thank you for all the people, that I met on my way. They helped me with an important cause: they strengthen my faith. I thanked them, but I want to do the same for You, Lord. Thank you for putting them on my way." I believe that such a "thank you" turns into a blessing that touches both sides. Gratitude is not a duty, but the fruit of the presence of grace in us. We give thanks as much as God is in us...

Happy Thanksgiving Day

fr. george