Gratitude: Don’t leave it at the Thanksgiving Table

I have a confession to make: I say “thank you” a lot! That may not seem like a shocking confession until you hear where and why I do it. Where: Chick-Fil-A; Why: I love to hear their associates say, “My pleasure.” It might meet some deep subconscious need left unfulfilled from my childhood. It may also stem from the astonishment when I first heard those words coming through the speakers in the drive-thru. I paused . . . smiled . . . and said, “Thank you.” “My pleasure” came the joyful reply. I was hooked and the addiction began to control me.

As we enter Thanksgiving week, we need to heed the advice on gratitude by Dr. Robert Emmons from the University of California-Davis that “the key is not to leave it on the Thanksgiving table.” According to researchers, students who feel and act grateful are less materialistic, get better grades, and complain of fewer headaches and stomach aches. Dr. Jeffrey Froh in the Journal of Happiness Studies (yes, that is an actual scientific journal) proclaims, “One of the best cures for materialism is to make someone grateful for what they have.” Do you want to help your child do better in school? Model a grateful heart before them each day! Melinda Beck highlights these findings and more in a Wall Street Journal article, Thank You. No, Thank you published on November 23, 2010.

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. “ The scientists are discovering how God wired us to live; first, by being thankful to Him and then by showing appreciation for others.  The Apostle Paul’s letters often close with the acknowledgment of specific people with whom he had served.  I am thankful that God has allowed me to partner with the families, staff, and students of Penn Christian Academy to collectively praise His name in this atmosphere of academic excellence. I am truly blessed!

I am also grateful to my friend, Rick Martin, who planted the seed of these thoughts through his blog, Life Skills 4a Lifetime. Thanks, Rick, for encouraging me to deepen and expand my addiction.