Each day, the headlines bemoan the ever-dwindling economy and shortage of jobs.
And now it’s the Thanksgiving season, when we gather to thank God for our blessings. Of course, it’s tempting to conclude that folks in dire straits can’t possibly achieve an attitude of gratitude, but I disagree.
You see, over the years, I’ve discovered that even people who have barely two coins to rub together still can count a long list of blessings.
Maybe it’s because when you’ve survived hard times, you really appreciate a bowl of soup and a slice of toast.
But if your hunger has always been assuaged, and you’ve never fretted over which bill you could pay this month -- water or phone -- then gratitude can be harder to drum up.
I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum. As a child, we always had delicious meals, and I took for granted we always would.
With their comfortable Miami home, a sleek sedan and sufficient money to pay for private schooling for their daughters, my parents didn’t consider themselves wealthy -- although I’m guessing other people did.
But when I ventured out on my own, and suddenly had to make ends meet without the help of Daddy’s checkbook, things were often quite dicey.
There were months when I could barely squeak by, and I had to shake coins from my piggy bank to get through the day.
I have never known poverty, nor have I ever been really rich, but one thing I know for sure. It isn’t money or material goods that determine how much gratitude you have.
Gratitude comes from knowing your real blessings.
Let’s face it: The cars, the houses, the savings accounts and the closets filled with clothing can all be lost in a heartbeat.
But intangibles are something that poor and rich alike can have in equal amounts.
What would wise people most deeply cherish: a brand-new car with all the trimmings or a marriage that has withstood the test of time?
Having granite countertops or a child who has survived a serious illness?
Whether we’re dining on filet mignon or hot dogs, driving the latest luxury car or a battered old truck, there’s plenty to be grateful for.
We can start with the fact that God has given us another day of life, and take it from there.
If you count the things money can’t buy, there are always reasons for gratitude.
Some folks with empty wallets have very full lives. Instead of pitying them, which is a knee-jerk reaction, we might acknowledge that being well-off isn’t always a matter of dollars and cents.
And, if, like me, you have very few jewels, you may have other treasures in abundance such as family, faith and friends, which sustain us during the hard times.
Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers!
Lorraine Murray’s latest books include a biography of Flannery O’Connor, “The Abbess of Andalusia,” plus two fun-filled mysteries, “Death in the Choir” and “Death of a Liturgist.” Her email address is lorrainevmurray@yahoo.com.
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