November is Gratitude Month!
/“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s desire for you in Christ Jesus.”
– Paul in I Thessalonians 5: 16-18
I am so glad to be greeting old friends (mostly clergy) in our Social Media Group that gathers every November to engage in the spiritual practice of posting 5 things we are grateful for each day. When we think of November in the US, we often think of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a complex holiday that brings gatherings with friends and family (in their joy and complexities) and invites us to reflect on the trauma inflicted on Native American People as the United States came to be. November is also Indigenous People’s Month/Native American Heritage Month. And I will be writing more about how to raise awareness and honor, and be thankful for the contributions of Indigenous folks in my next November Notes From the Journey article.
In 2013, Stacey Grewel, a writer and spiritual coach petitioned the US government to extend the practice of being Thankful out into the whole month of November, and to recognize it formally. In 2015, we had our first “National Gratitude Month” in the US. And groups like mine sprang up on social media. There is, indeed, we found, something very powerful about engaging the practice of gratitude very intentionally for a set amount of time, each year.
On some days I put a lot of thought into my post, and on others it is an afterthought at the end of a strange and often very busy day. What I have noticed is that I always feel lighter after I am doing it, and especially after scrolling down and reading and “liking” the gratitudes others have posted. I have also extended this out into the rest of the year and am more intentionally practicing gratitude every day of the year. Yes, Sometimes I forget. But I think it’s a good aspirational goal for all of us. Paul suggests in his letter to the Thessalonian church that it is “God’s will/desire” that we “rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances!”
(I Thessalonians 5: 16-18)
And there are important modern psychological reasons for that. As Melodie Beatty and other self-help writers have written, expressing gratitude has the (extraordinary) power to shift us from focusing on what is negative and “going wrong” in our lives to appreciating and focusing on what is positive and “going right.” That doesn’t mean we are attempting to spiritually bypass the hard things. Scientific research has shown that “practicing gratitude can enhance our moods, decrease stress and drastically improve our overall level of health and well-being even in the face of significant challenges.”
You know I like to teach by example. So here are six things I am grateful for as we celebrate Gratitude Month:
Our UCH Council and Leadership: Especially Kristina, our Moderator who does so much work on our behalf behind the scenes.
All the incredible updates we have made on our church website. Look: www.uchucc.org and like our Facebook page: facebook.com/haywarducc because that is about to get way more exciting.
The way we can gather on Zoom with folks who would not normally attend in-person worship - like Brenda and Daniel, Jess and Jessie, and Arlen.
Everyone who helps make worship happen: Beau, Anarka, Sam, Jackie, Laurie, and every one of you who volunteer to be liturgist.
Our upcoming hybrid worship in Kristina’s back yard on Nov 6. Bring your fleece jackets and umbrellas. Or join us on Zoom. We look forward to being with you!
The opportunity you have given me to serve as your Minister, Teacher, and Zoom Host! You teach me so much and allow me to share my gifts-which is all very lifegiving to all of us.
Now it is your turn. What are you grateful for as we celebrate Gratitude Month? Here are some good suggestions about ways to incorporate more gratitude into your life: National Gratitude Month - Ways to Show Gratitude This November (alwaystheholidays.com) about ways to be grateful.
With Blessings, Love, and Lots of Gratitude, Rev. Jeanne
