“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” – Alphonse Karr
I am writing this post on the evening of Thanksgiving. My belly is full (but no longer overfull); the dishes are washed (but still in the dishwasher); and the girls are discovering that, even as teenagers, hide-and-seek is fun. It is easy to be thankful in my current state. In this moment, there is nothing for which I am not thankful.
It’s when things are not going according to plan that it’s hard to count our blessings. Who in their right mind would be thankful for the rose when they’re bleeding because of its thorns? And let’s face it—we all have thorns in our lives. Some of them pop up through no fault of our own. Some of them we bring upon ourselves. Either way, they hurt. And either way, it’s the ability to see the rose despite the pain that allows us to persevere.
One of the reasons I love Thanksgiving, aside from the fact that incessant eating is encouraged on this day, is the idea behind the day—we should give thanks. The United States celebrates Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, but we are not the only country that has a national day of thanks. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. Liberia celebrates Thanksgiving on the first Thursday of November. Thanksgiving is also celebrated in some parts of the Caribbean, and unofficially the day is celebrated in other countries, as well.
In a similar vein, there is a phrase in Arabic that expresses this message of being thankful, no matter what is happening in your life—Alhamdulillah. The phrase literally means “praise be to God.” It is found in the first chapter of the Quran, but it is commonly used by Arabic-speakers of all religions, including non-Muslims. In the Arabic class I took in law school, our professor—a Lebanese man—used to have us practice conversational Arabic by asking us how we were doing. The rule was, though, that whatever answer we gave had to end it with Alhamdulillah.
Professor: “How are you doing?”
Student: “I’m doing well, praise be to God.”
Professor: “How are you doing?”
Student: “I’m tired, but praise be to God.”
Professor: “How are you doing?”
Student: “I just failed an exam, but praise be to God.”
It can be difficult to have this mindset—to be thankful, no matter what. And like learning a new language, it requires practice.
Another quote I liked when looking for quotes for this month’s newsletter is one that is attributed to Cicero, a Roman stateman who is considered one of Rome’s greatest orators: “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” I agree—having a grateful attitude allows us to see the good in every situation. It allows us to have more joy, more peace, and more hope, regardless of what life throws at us.
As we approach the New Year, let us carry the spirit of Thanksgiving in our hearts. Let us be thankful for all we have and all we’ve learned. Let us appreciate the people who love us now and all those who have passed through our lives at one point or another. And no matter what we are dealing with in this moment, let us look forward with a grateful heart to all the good things yet to come.
- Kathryn Amurra