This year during the days leading up to our annual turkey gorge--I will write my posts using the theme revolving around Thanksgiving. I reserve the right of writer's discretion and loose interpretation -- would never want to stifle the leading of The Spirit or the whims of the author. Hopefully as I sit and ponder thankfulness and giving---I will come away with a better appreciation for my blessed and abundant life and a deeper conviction of the need for thanks.
Today while rolling this around, I came away convicted and convinced I need to re-examine my attitude of thanks. Being born and raised in the South--"Thank You" rolls off my tongue for any and every act of even the simplest kindness. I utter "Thank You" without even a thought--it is a habit instilled by Momma's "Good Manners" training. Why even now I am hearing my children teach the same lessons to my grands. Those words Momma used, and I repeated are now being passed on to the third generation---"What do you say?" It does not take long for the little ones to know the answer to that question. It becomes an automatic THANK YOU.
Those dreaded thank you notes of my childhood now roll off my pen with great flourish. I wax grateful with the best of them. How many rewrites did Momma insist upon though before I became proficient and automatic at the written note of thanks? She taught me well--I can do it with one hand tied behind my back and my eyes closed.
There have been times in my life when I felt thanks to my very core. Relief filled --emotionally charged--deeply felt thanks. Sadly it takes some near calamity--some impending doom--some near miss with mortality for me to feel --to truly know thanks to the very deepest core of my being. Most of the time my thanks are empty platitudes uttered without thought and unfortunately--forgotten as soon as I say them.
When I pray, I give thanks---repeating by rote all I am blessed with and supposedly thankful for. But do I feel--do I really convey true thanks--probably not. Is God pleased with my Thanksgiving? Or do those thanks bounce back as they hit the ceiling--with the dull thud of an empty praise.
Well Friend, I am convicted---and convinced---I need to examine my heart--and repent of my lack luster thanksgiving. To have been lavished with blessings---my thank you note has been returned to sender with a serious need of a rewrite.
So stay tuned--hold on---we are going to explore the act of
Thanksgiving.
34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
I Chronicles 16:34
Good manners also came from the Midwest---I was born in Indiana and spent my childhood until I was 18 in Florida and Please and thank you were a must...not to mention ma'am and no sir and I'm sorry. We raised our only child the same way...thank you Lulu, I think we all need to reexamine this topic...Blessings
ReplyDeleteI hope I didn't sound like the South has the corner on the manner market! NO---I have come across many from all points across this great land who have good manners. I do think we carry it to an extreme here in the deep South.
DeleteYou may be tired of hearing about it between now and Thanksgiving, but I have found the first week's posts came quickly!
Blessings, Friend
Thank you, most sincerely, for a wonderful reminder of genuine gratitude.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Your are very welcome, Victor. You Brits are the author of the good manners book!
DeleteBlessings, Friend!
I disagree Lulu. There are many rude people over here and increasing in numbers every day. Rude, coarse and downright disgusting at times. Both in real life and on TV.
DeleteWe may have been the authors of the good manners book; but we've lost it somewhere in our rush to be modern and sophisticated.
God bless.
Sorry to return to this subject Lulu.
DeleteBack in the day, in the UK, people would stop and take their hats off when they see a funeral cortege passing. Now they are more likely to overtake the hearse.
Now if you stand up and give up your seat to a lady on a bus or train she is more likely to ask you what you want; thinking you're propositioning her.
Many a time I stood there at the supermarket holding the door open and people enter without saying thank you.
We've even had incidents where frail old people are attacked in the street and at their own homes for the few pennies they have on them. Many end up in hospital or die from the attack.
A friend of mine works in a call centre as a customer services assistant. You should hear the foul language from people phoning his organisation to complain about the service. Often the insults are personal rather than directed to the complaint they have to make.
Lulu ... I feel sad writing this.
God bless.
I am sad with you, Victor. What has happened--where did this change begin? I am happy to report--in the rural southern US--good manners--for the most part--still prevail. Unfortunately, we are always behind in new trends.
DeletePraying we all return to a sense of civility, and stem the downward slide!
Thank you for your comments, Victor!
Hi Lulu! This is a great idea for November, the month of Thanksgiving. I need to be more intentional too! I do say 'thank you' and 'please' and all that by knee-jerk response, but I'm not so sure it's a bad thing. I think sometimes habits come before understanding...sort of like teeth brushing as children. But now? It's time to put my soul into my actions.
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to your November posts, and being encouraged to think more deeply about what I say.
Ceil
It has already been eye opening as I have pondered the subject. NOW--to take action!
DeleteBlessings, Friend!
It does come earlier every year, or it would seem to. You have made me think this morning as I am also one to say thank you for everything. I think the next time I say this, I will make myself stop and list a few things on why I am thankful. It will slow me down a bit.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have been safe with the crazy weather in Texas. Been praying for that area.
We all seem to need to think--before speaking, Kim!
DeleteFortunately I am on high ground, but there are many who are not--praying for them!
Blessings, Kim!
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude completely recalibrates how we look at life. I'm still learning ... and love the difference when I lay my whining and worrying down and pick up the mantle of praise!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to what you'll be serving up, Lulu ...
And THANK YOU!
;-}
I seriously need recalibrating, Linda! It has been a huge eye opener as I have written the first week's posts. Anxiously anticipating what God is going to show me next!
DeleteBlessings, Friend!
I'm also born and raised in the Deep South. Manners where everything 'back in the day'. But, truly, it may have been more of a cultural thing, rather than a regional thing. Socialism / Communism, rather than relying on God and His Word, has ruined all our cultures beyond measure rendering us rude, impatient, greedy and sometimes dangerous. I think the whole world needs an attitude adjustment that only belief in God can give.
ReplyDeleteGreat post as always Lulu.
Hope your day is blessed. ~:)
If only- right - Sparky? Got plenty more coming-stay tuned, Friend!
DeleteBlessings!