As Spring arrives in the Northern hemisphere, and nature comes to life, it may be worthwhile taking a little time out to ‘count our blessings’. If you are feeling in need of a lift, why not try making that list? As Spring arrives in the Northern hemisphere, and nature comes to life, it may be worthwhile taking a little time out to ‘count our blessings’. If you are feeling in need of a lift, why not try making that list?
What have you got to be grateful for? Perhaps it is a question we don’t allow to intrude too often into our busy lives. But, busy or not, it may be worthwhile taking a little time out – and more than just occasionally –to ‘count our blessings’.
Sir Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, certainly thinks so. ‘Once a day take quiet time to feel gratitude for what you have,’ he recommends. ‘This alone will bring you half-way to happiness… We tend to take things for granted and focus on our unmet needs, unfulfilled desires. Giving thanks is better than shopping – and cheaper too!’
Cultivating ‘an attitude of gratitude’ can be life-transforming. ‘God has two dwelling places,’ said the 17th century English writer Izaak Walton. ‘One is in heaven and the other is in a thankful heart.’ The blessings we list will be as different as we are, but I'm sure they will also have much in common – life and wife, children and grandchildren, health and home, food and friends, God’s care and protection - or something special He may have given as a gift. In some of our countries there are attempts (often, it must be said, closely allied to commercial gain) to focus our gratitude. We celebrate Mothers’ Day – and now Fathers’ Day as well – when we are encouraged to show gratitude for our parents. The Pilgrim Fathers bequeathed Americans a whole day of Thanksgiving.
On the other side of the coin, it is striking how united we all are in our condemnation of perceived ingratitude. ‘Blow, blow thou winter wind,’ wrote Shakespeare, ‘Thou art not so unkind as man's ingratitude.’ Indignation at ingratitude comes easily. How quick I am to notice when someone fails to thank me for something I have done for them. ‘Don't mention it,’ we say in Britain when someone thanks us – but we do expect them to mention it and are very put out when they don’t. In her book Watching the English: the hidden rules of English behaviour, Kate Fox instances the act of holding open a door for someone to pass through. It is done as a courtesy and not especially to solicit thanks – but if that beneficiary sweeps past without indicating some acknowledgement or appreciation, there is guaranteed to be a strong reaction of the ‘who do they think they are? I suppose they think I am just the door-holder’ variety.
In the Christian gospels there is a story of 10 lepers being cured, but only one, a Samaritan, returns to give thanks to Jesus. He wants to know why. ‘Were not 10 lepers cleansed?’ he asks. ‘Where are the other nine? Was no-one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’
It is all too easy to take things – and people – for granted. I remember one Christmas when a whole group of us were served a wonderful seasonal lunch. It had been painstakingly prepared with all the trimmings and decorations. I was absorbed in conversation, suddenly realized I had a train to catch and left without expressing any thanks or appreciation. Half-way to the station and all the way on the train home, I felt increasingly bad about this. On arrival I immediately wrote out and posted a card of thanks. I hope it went some way to right the neglect, but it was only second best.
Listing things to be grateful for and seeking ways to express gratitude bring depth, peace and grace to our lives. If you are feeling in need of a lift, why not try making that list? As the Rabbi says, it’s better than shopping!
Writer unknown.
English