Gratitude
Christmas is often considered to be little more a time of giving stuff to people. Many of us rush around to get something for everyone we would feel embarrassed about if we left off the list. This is not the spirit of giving – it is the insecurity that develops when we have have no gratitude.
The true spirit of Christmas is “gratitude”. No matter how much we have, or how little, or how much we have lost or been taken advantage of, gratitude is the human spirit of Christmas. Everyone religious or atheist can have gratitude simply by practicing it.
For everyone I have ever met who thought they had a lousy lot in life, I have also met a person who is not grateful for what they do have.
When I worked in China, I met people living in freezing weather in little wooden huts, heated only by an iron pot in the middle of the room with a few bricks of coal in it. Water was a good hike down the road. Forget electricity. They were perfectly happy and contented.
Every person has something to be very grateful for. Perhaps is a decent job, or a good spouse or friend who stands by you in thick or thin. Maybe you are very close with your parents, or you have a close friend. Even if you have air, water, three square feet of land, and a bite of food to eat, you have something to be grateful for.
Even if you are poor, and furnished your home with furniture others put out by the street, you have something to be very grateful for.
Folks who are angry because they “don’t have enough” or their lot in life isn’t “up to snuff”, have not realized that when gratitude is practiced, the anger melts away.
When we feel gratitude, and the weight of self-imposed worry is lifted, then we are truly ready to give to others. We are able to give what we can truly give. The gift of friendship is a fine gift. A few words of moral support, helping a friend in trouble, or working for a cause you truly believe in costs nothing and is worth more than money itself.
For those who find enough gratitude and have some financial resources, I would like to suggest a couple of organizations whose members do incredible work, giving tirelessly of themselves all year around, and get nothing in return for it.
One organization is Mens News Daily (http://mensnewdaily.com) . Mike LaSalle invested a tremendous sum of money, and has never made a dime from it.
Another is RADAR – Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting (http://mediaradar.org). RADAR has successfully impacted both the nation and the world, financed by nothing more than a donation button on their web site.
There are many other websites equally deserving. Let us each help at least one of them if we have the financial means to do so. Let us give to organizations that give of themselves all year, if we can afford it. If not, let us give of our time in some way.
Let everyone now spend a few minutes writing down a list titled “I am grateful for ….”. The gift of Christmas will come for you, even if you think you have nothing to give.
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David R. Usher is Senior Policy Analyst for the True Equality Network, and President of the American Coalition for Fathers and Children, Missouri Coalition
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Stumble It!
December 11th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Here are a few things I’m grateful for:
(1) A loving God that sent His Son to die on the cross for my sins;
(2) His providence in sending me Mrs Wapiti and for teaching me many lessons about marriage and about how to be a good Godly husband and father;
(3) The community of brothers–and a couple of sisters–found here at MND and other places
(4) Thanks Mike LaSalle for providing this site as a place for us to fellowship with each other. I’m glad to see that the ChipIn bucket is almost full.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:52 am
I would be grateful to be able to say thanks, David, for all your fine work, along with Mike’s, and all the insightful articles you give to us. But my posts keep disappearing from your commentary box!
December 12th, 2007 at 4:56 am
..I’m gratefull for the progress we have made in pierceing the media “lace curtain” this year!!
December 12th, 2007 at 9:37 am
David–
Thank you for a very good article.
Here’s what I’m thankful for–last year my kids were living with their mom and this year they’re living with me.
Boy, can that make a man want to get up the morning and shout “Alleluia, Lord. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
December 12th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Excellent article, Mr. Usher. I have always tried to be grateful for what we have, even though it isn’t much. Just a few years ago, we were homeless, living with friends. Since then, not a day goes by when I don’t thank God for our apartment, tiny as it is, and the heat, hot water, and electricity that are included in the rent. Although our health isn’t the best, I’m also thankful it isn’t worse. We have three wonderful adult children and two adorable gransons, all healthy and doing well in life. My husband has a job, which I am extremely grateful for, and we have a car, even though it is old and very close to having to be junked. I am also very, very grateful for my wonderful husband, for he is so patient with me and willing to put up with my problems. If we had any money at all, I would definitely donate to MND; unfortunately, our Christmas giving is always tight to non-existent, and this year is no exception. I’m sorta hoping someone will give us a more reliable car for Christmas, but I’m pretty sure that won’t happen!
I think not having money to run out and do all the shopping that seems to occupy most people’s lives right now is a good thing. It allows us to focus on what Christmas is really all about. And that is something more people should do, and more often. Thank you for pointing that out so eloquently.
December 17th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I need to submit this link to Mike. It’s a touching story about the world’s oldest _human_ dying at the age of 117.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7147254.stm
“Born, according to family documents, on 15 March 1891, Mr Nestor, a former farm labourer, put his long life down to the fact that he never married.
“He didn’t find himself a mate because he was a short man and never had money,” Oksana believes.
He also led a healthy life, she says.
He loved to get outside and would run barefoot through the grass. Vodka he drank in moderation, and his favourite food was simple country fare with his greatest luxury a slice of sausage in a bread roll. “