Americans live in one of the most productive and prosperous periods in human history. Yet it’s hard to tell amid everyone vying for more wealth, popularity, and power. We’ve, unfortunately, fallen prey to the pursuit of happiness rather than stopping from time to time to bask in the gifts of life that truly bring peace and joy.
In The New York Times, businessman and entrepreneur Russell C. Ball III believes one of the main reasons Americans feel so unsettled and ungrateful these days is envy. Ball writes: “Rarely has envy been so easily provoked, profitably spread or deeply embedded in daily life. This collective envy runs the risk of cutting the threads that hold our democratic system and civil society together.”
Americans have been convinced that when someone else prospers—financially, culturally, or legally—it somehow reduces their own prosperity. The author of Ecclesiastes wrote (4:4): “Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person’s envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.”
In this moment, we have all come under the delusion that pursuing temporal things will fill our hearts and make our joy overflow. In the end, though, Ecclesiastes is correct; we are just chasing the wind.
German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community, “We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.”
During this Thanksgiving week, I am setting aside my pursuit of happiness to concentrate on the gifts of life standing right before my eyes. The quest for joy can be exhausting, so let’s acknowledge the “small gifts” that truly matter in life.
My Gifts:
Family. Life is fleeting, so carve out more time. My family is not perfect, but they’re pretty darn good.
Friends. Genuine friends bring peace during chaos and laugh with you through tears.
Moments. Find moments that fill your heart. Be curious, travel often, and build your community.
Health. Remember, it’s a journey, not a destination.
Home. Downsizing has been the best decision for us. Old houses can be a pain, but they also bring joy.
Trees, Flowers, and Windowboxes. The Creator’s gift of natural beauty makes the world more tolerable.
Love. Love more, love often, and love those who need it most.
While my list could go on, what would be on your list?
During this Thanksgiving week, let me encourage you to offer gratitude for the “small gifts” in life that bring you happiness, joy, and peace. And, remember the psalmist’s encouragement, “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify the Lord with thanksgiving” (69:30).
This week, you might just be surprised: Your life might be filled with more happiness, joy, and peace than you realize.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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CEO of Good Faith Media.