Teaching Thankfulness

This being the week in which Thanksgiving falls, it seems likely you’d expect a Thanksgiving musing from me.  While I considered going countercultural and not blogging about it, I finally folded. What prompted it was an article a friend sent me written by an economists Brian Wesbury and Robert Stein.

Wesbury and Stein begin their article by writing, “Thanksgiving is about the bounty of this great land, and the plenty that ingenious and hard-working people have been able to create.”   I’d say it differently.  I’d say, “Thanksgiving is about being thankful for the resources God has made available and for the gift of creativity and perseverance given to us that allow us to translate those resources into bounty.”  While no one would suggest that bounty is equally distributed in our country, most of those with bounty have historically been concerned about those without.  We are a giving nation, even in hard economic times.  Additionally, Americans have been in the forefront of those who “invented medicines, technology and production techniques tht have lifted standards massively,” say Wesbury and Stein.  No argument here.

But the authors go on to be shocked by the answers when a Pew Research survey basically asked those polled if they thought our country was a very good place to live as compared to other countries.  In the 18-29 year old age range, only 27% agreed while in the over 65 group, 60% agreed.

How to account for the big difference?  The authors write, “[That the younger group would feel this way] is understandable because many of them have been sheltered in a subsidized world that keeps them from pondering where the things they enjoy ultimately come from.”  Wesbury and Stein go on to suggest that maybe this age group will eventually understand “that there is no endless money tree somewhere that provides food, clothing and shelter, let alone iPhones, televisions and transportation.”  Maybe too, they muse, one day this group will realize that with all it’s faults and inequities, the U.S. Is doing pretty well in terms of standard of living.

They take one final swipe by suggesting that they “suspect that maybe older and middle-aged Americans have simply failed to properly convey their appreciation for America [to the younger generation].  It seems many forget why we’re giving thanks.”

I think they have a point.  Perhaps my generation hasn’t done a good job in instilling appreciation for who we are and what we feel blessed to have for the younger generation.  I know this: at the opening of the new season for the Memphis Symphony it is traditional to begin with our National Anthem and the 30-something couple in front of us didn’t stand for the music.  Do we have our faults as a nation? Without question we do.  But, at the same time, we’ve done much right and we’ve done it through hard work and determination.  As an ancient Jewish prayer at meal time says, “Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation.  Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made.” 

So, how about we feel thankful for what God has provided and the gifts given us to be co-creators in translating those gifts into the bread on our table and the iPhone at our ear?  And equally important, let’s work harder to help the coming generations develop the same spirit of thankfulness.

Peace, Jerry