Griffin Speaks

GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING

Eighteen years ago I was standing behind Dr. Joe L. Reed when I overheard him tell a fellow church member that “Ingratitude is the gravest sin.” I thought about it for a moment and realized that he was absolutely right. In fact if you think about it, grateful people are happier people. They seem to have the world by the tail. People who are grateful are more likely to feel loved. People who are grateful seem to be favored by God.

I believe that gratitude plays a major role in a person’s sense of well being. If you examine the world’s major religions you will find that they treasure gratitude as a morally beneficial emotional state. A grateful person does not sit around complaining about how bad life has treated him. A grateful person counts his blessings one by one. There is no such thing as a grateful depressed person.

When I allow people to enter into my personal world they are often totally shocked at how wonderful and unbelievable that world is. Almost all of those people have said to me: “I can’t believe how lucky you are.” “Why don’t you play the lottery?” My response is always “Why play the lottery when you are grateful for what you have and know that nothing will make you any happier.”

There is so much for all of us to be thankful and grateful for that I just don’t understand why there are so many unhappy people. A few examples of why you should be grateful: If you woke up this morning you should be grateful. If when you woke up your house was still standing you should be grateful. If you woke up and can walk you should be grateful. If you can see you should be grateful. I know it seems a little silly to point out these obvious reasons a person should be grateful, but most people overlook them as reasons to be grateful. If they didn’t overlook them then most people would be happy.

When I wake up in the morning my first thought is to say “Thank You Lord.” When I look out the window and see the rising sun I say “Thank You Lord.” I am so busy saying “Thanks” that there is no room for fear or doubt or anxiety of any sort. I had a recent visitor from the North to look at me and he said, “You are one happy Negro, What is your secret?” I told him that I am grateful for what I have! Many of us are so busy praying to God for more blessings that we can’t appreciate the blessings that he has already bestowed upon us.

We will soon celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. I suggest that you take note that for many people this will be their last opportunity to give thanks. Take this opportunity to share with your friends and loved ones just how much they mean to you. Take this opportunity to count your blessings one by one and thank the lord!

In the words of my dad, “If you don’t have money at least have class!

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by visiting his web page at www.greggriffin.com