Saying Thank You!

How do you say "thank you" to someone who gives you life? How do you say "thank you" to the one who saves your life? How do you say "thank you?"

It is interesting to think about how the early pilgrims said "thanks". First, they gathered. One of the great things about the celebrations of life is the gathering. When a person dies, folks come from miles to gather. When a child is born, we gather. When we pass certain milestones in life, we gather. Gathering is a way to show your appreciation. It reminds us of our place in the midst of the world. We are not alone.

Then we share. The Native Americans shared their knowledge of the land with the early pilgrims. No doubt being in a strange land under dire circumstances, life was difficult. Then the pilgrims shared as well. No doubt that the sharing of the meal held religious significance for the Pilgrims. ALL of life held religious significance for them. But they did not exclude their new friends who had a very different faith from theirs. They held for each other a respect for common ground of life. They shared with each other.

The gathering and sharing is wrapped up in one word, compassion. Giving thanks is recognizing compassion as well as extending compassion. Much of life has been given to us. We have not earned it. We have inherited it from those who have gone before us. It was their compassion that gives us a reason to share compassion.

I wonder what the world would be like if we made it our goal for the rest of this year, to practice gathering and sharing under the umbrella of compassion. You see, God first loved us. And God invites us to extend that love to all of the world around us.

Give thanks! Gather! Share! Love.