In America today is Thanksgiving Day. A national holiday. I was taught that it commemorates a meal after the 17th Century English Pilgrims in what is now Massachusetts survived a year and the people already living in the land provided food for a feast.
For some it is a time for family. Gathering the extended family for a turkey dinner. I have an Italian friend who told me she saw a video once about a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner and it looked nice.
Many have families torn apart by death or anger or misunderstanding. I imagine it is difficult to think of gratitude at those times. Psychologists tell us that conjuring gratitude even in those circumstances helps our mental/emotional balance. But, who am I to tell people that?
Many other people use the day both for gratitude and generosity. They provide food for homeless people and people whose economic fortunes are low. Some people in the community I lived in provided a community Thanksgiving dinner bringing together people who were alone and people less fortunate. A great idea of generosity and gratitude.
Instead of just one day, perhaps we could use the day, even those of you from around the world who read these words, to start a pattern of daily gratitude and generosity. Imagine what a world it would be if even half of the population practiced that!
Faith Venture 
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