“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
Later this month, we will celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving. While we think of the first Thanksgiving of the pilgrims and Indians in the 1600s, the modern federal holiday started in 1863, during the height of the Civil War. It had been celebrated regionally, especially in New England for a hundred years or so before that. Both Presidents George Washington and James Madison had declared single days of Thanksgiving during their presidencies, prior to President Lincoln making it a national holiday in 1863. The proclamations expressed their gratitude to “Almighty God” or “the Highest God”. They obviously thought it appropriate to show gratitude to the Creator for the gifts and victories He has bestowed on us.
It is important that we show our gratitude to others for what they do for us, the joy they bring us or the service they give to others, the country or our communities. Some years ago, many people started expressing gratitude to all of our armed forces members in uniform when they saw them in public or veterans they identified by the hats or shirts they wore. It wasn’t long before good people started thanking police officers, firefighters and paramedics for what they do.
At the risk of overdoing it, we need to show our appreciation for even the smallest kindness. Most people usually do that with a simple “thank you” when someone holds a door open or allows someone with a small amount of groceries to get ahead of us in the checkout line. Even the smallest kindness deserves a smile and a thank you.
For many professions, a monetary tip, where befitting, expresses our thanks to the waiter/waitress, cab or uber driver, but a word of appreciation is appropriate too, and adds meaning to the tip. In restaurants, telling your server to inform the cook or chief how much you enjoyed your meal can make a food preparer’s day.
On occasion, when someone has done something that you think went above or beyond a normal service or kindness, it would be a good thing to notify that person’s boss or company, in writing, explaining the little extra that person did and what it meant to you. It could be the thing that helps the supervisor or company to give that helpful person a raise in pay or a promotion.
In big and small things, it is always appreciated when someone shows gratitude to a person who deserves it. While thanking someone for holding a door open is a small thing, thanking God, when praying, for being born in and/or living in this country, for family and friends and all of the other gifts he has bestowed on us, is a big thing and certainly deserves recognition. It is almost always necessary to express that gratitude.
The late author and motivational speaker, William Arthur Ward said it best, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
2 thoughts on “Gratitude – Buz Blog”
And Buz, you are a gift to us. As a retired police officer and now a published author of mental reminders. I look forward to your essays. Today’s was an American history lesson. As Pilgrims – Christians their practice was to be open to kindness with local indians and thus the Indians responded saving the Pilgrims on a severe winter; perhaps more than one. Hopefully, we will be more open and willing to express kindness as we make our contacts with others.
Amen. Thanks, Tom
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