Emily Post, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade & the Apostle Paul
Say “thank you”. “Get what you get and don’t pitch a fit.” Have an “attitude of gratitude.” “Give thanks to the Lord with a grateful heart.”
These phrases have appeared over the years in my own life, whether in my family growing up or in my kids’ preschool classrooms. I hope I don’t offend you when I say that I hate writing thank-you notes. I always have, and maybe my kids will miss out on the finer ways of Emily Post. She’s probably somewhere pretty angry at my uncivilized ways of interacting in certain social situations.
I have always wanted my “thank you” and my gratitude to be a genuine reflection of my heart. It’s easy to be grateful for things we desire or believe we deserve for our hard work. Being thankful for the gas money my grandma gave me during college or the degree I earned four years later was no problem. I thanked God for food before a meal and thanked the barista at the counter for my Nitro cold brew with almond milk. I did not get excited to write over 500 thank you notes to people I had never met who sent me wedding gifts for which I do not recall registering. To me, that seemed absurd. How could I be grateful for things I saw as useless or a waste of kitchen counter space?
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Gratitude and Materialism
One of my favorite memories, past and present, is watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. I love seeing the celebrities sing, dance and welcome in the holiday. The excitement of the people in the streets of New York City filled my head with curiosity. What would it be like to be at the parade? Everyone looked so happy on TV! The parade kicked off my favorite holiday in a way that elicited anticipation. It represented the intersection of “regular people” and famous ones who rode on the floats and announced what was to come!
Although it was given the title “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” the commercials in between reminded me of everything I did not have and desperately needed for the upcoming December holiday. It did not elicit gratitude or a spirit of thanksgiving for what I already had. There was a tension between being thankful for the things in my life presently and being inundated with catalogs, newspaper ads, and commercials of all the deals that would be available the following day. This has now shifted to a same-day shopping experience. Thanksgiving and gratitude were quickly pushed to the background and, unfortunately, were short-lived as my “thank you” moved quickly to discontentment. I could not even be grateful for 24 hours without the pressure to want more or be dissatisfied with my life and my blessings.
Paul the Preacher in Prison
You may or may not have heard about a dude named Paul, AKA Saul, from the Bible. It’s a great read about how he got a name change and a new career. (Check out the book of Acts in the New Testament). Paul wrote most of the New Testament and had many reasons not to be grateful. He was beaten multiple times, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and bitten by a snake, just to name a few unfortunate events. Yet he wrote words like this: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18. In Colossians 3:17, he proclaimed, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Gratitude is a choice, and it is one that even the secular world deems helpful in combating anxiety. We cannot be both anxious and grateful at the same time. It would be like having one foot in one canoe and one in another canoe. Research has shown great benefits and improved quality of life for those who practice gratitude.
How Do I Practice Gratitude?
Give it a try! Write down three to five things you are grateful for and pause to enjoy them. As a Christian, it is a great reminder to thank the one who sends “every good gift and every perfect gift.” (James 1:17). Start a gratitude journal and remember all the simple things for which we can be grateful.
And a shout out to Emily Post. There may be something to practicing gratitude first, and the feelings might follow. My eight-piece setting of crystal glasses does come in handy once in a while as long as I remember to pull the price tags off before using them.
Written by: Sarah Murdock
sarahmurdock@restorationcounselingatl.com, ext 129
Sarah Murdock has a background in education and athletics. She offers a positive and encouraging environment where clients can feel seen and heard. Sarah has a passion for working with couples who desire to enhance their marriage or with individuals or couples in parenting. Other issues she works with include anxiety, depression, life transitions, abuse, trauma, career changes, and relationship challenges.