We often and necessarily criticize anti-Christian aspects of contemporary American culture. We must also, however, point out and praise those institutions and habits of America that remain from her once strongly religious past. One such institution is the national holiday of Thanksgiving celebrated on the last Thursday of new style November. Though not an Orthodox Church feast, this day nonetheless providentially stands in the practical calendar of our lives as a reminder to render thanks to God for all that He has done for us.

The great virtue and habit of giving thanks, of gratitude, is inseparable from that other great virtue which is the foundation of Christian life, which is the fear of God. If a person is always grumbling and criticizing, saying how unacceptable everyone and everything is, then he is ungrateful to God for all that He has done and arranged for him personally and for the salvation of man. Such a person loses the fear of God, because he unconsciously believes that he is God, since he knows better than God the way things ‘should be’.

By contrast, the person who constantly forces himself to give thanks to God becomes like the great saints of old. Think of the Holy Prophet Job, who lost everything yet exclaimed, The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Think of our Holy Father John Chrysostom, who was exiled twice and died under arrest, in loneliness, illness, and total poverty, who nevertheless constantly said, Glory be to God for all things. We sinful ones have not lost everything: We can make a long list of things to be grateful for. Yet, how much precious time, and, most important, how much energy of our precious souls do we throw away in grumbling and worrying, either silently or aloud?

Practically, how do we acquire the habit of gratitude? Think of the most basic thing, our food and drink. Do we ask the blessing of God every time we eat? Do we thank Him after every meal? It does not matter whether we are with others or alone, in public or private. At least, by making the Sign of the Cross, we show that we acknowledge the One from Whom all things come, and our action states that we are little ones under His all-provident care and not ‘gods’ who provide ‘for ourselves’. Do not be ashamed: If your acquaintances are worth having, they will respect you for this. Most people appreciate the sincerity of a person’s religious faith.

In our family life, let us practice simplicity with gratitude. It is essential not to spoil our children, but to keep their lives simple and uncluttered, and to teach them to be grateful for everything they have. Concretely: When a child whines, “I want this, I want that,” make him sit down and write out every single thing he has to be grateful for, and ask him if he gives thanks to God every day for these things! Ask him if, instead of asking for more, he should make a list of the things he could give away! Frankly, we should all do this.

In our shared church life, I exhort everyone to practice this same simplicity and gratitude. When we meet, let us speak of ten good things about our parish and fellow parishioners before we mention one bad thing. How much precious time, how much precious energy of soul do we throw away in criticism and worries about bishops, priests, chanters, parish council, money, this, that…! Let us instead glorify and thank our all-gracious and all-good God, Who has put us precisely into that situation which is perfect for our salvation. To do otherwise is to doubt that He loves us and desires our salvation, which ultimately leads to the sin of atheism and despair.

By doing these concrete things, we train our souls to become simple and holy, so that with respectful fear we may ‘walk before God’ like our holy fathers of old. We begin to understand the Lord’s words in the Holy Gospel:

May Thanksgiving this year find us in fact giving thanks for all the Lord has done for us, and thus may we acquire the fear of God, which is the beginning of wisdom.