On this special Thanksgiving Day podcast, ordained minister Dr. Dennis Hall engages his stepdaughter Lane Leddy in a discussion of gratitude. They begin by reflecting on the history of Thanksgiving Day, noting that in 1863 Pres. Abraham Lincoln called for two days of Thanksgiving in the midst of the Civil War. By the 1890s nearly every state celebrated Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. Dr. Hall points out that the words thank, Thanksgiving, thankful and other derivatives appear more than 130 times in the Bible. The discussion leads to the conclusion that we should not only thank God in good times but we should thank him in bad times too. The different depths of gratitude are addressed. They recognize some plunder the world forever seeking more. They feel supremely entitled. Others use gratitude as a temporary escape from their guilt over their pleasure-seeking efforts. Some people are grateful for the small and simple things in life. Still, others have gratitude as their constant companion and seem to be content. And there is that special group of people who are grateful even for adversities, living in a life of total surrender. It is clear that gratitude makes one happier and healthier. In addition to facilitating contentment gratitude strengthens relationships. The podcast concludes with Dr. Hall challenging the listeners to take time on Thanksgiving Day to offer a prayer of gratitude for God being with you in the good times and the bad times. Can also be seen on YouTube at:
https://youtu.be/yDZq_7u52gM