What Thanksgiving Tells Us About Ourselves

Father, I thank you that you have heard me. - Jesus, in John 11:41

Jesus made a regular practice of giving thanks. When we give thanks, it shows something about us. Listen in to these words from the mystic:

Expressing thanks includes acknowledging a dependence on the person who gave the gift. You acknowledge that you are not self-sufficient--that you need the support a phone call brings, the encouragement a compliment gives, the understanding an intimate conversatioon involves, the warmth a hug provides. A humble give-and-take between real people breaks through a false independence. It acknowledges interdependence: you need each other and the gifts each can provide.

- Donald Postema, Space for God

Look for opportunities to give thanks today. Pay attention to what it’s saying about you, your need, your dependence, and your connectivity.