Blessings of Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving approaching, soon we will all be taking time to acknowledge what we are grateful for. Whether it’s the little things or the big things in life, being thankful is key to being happy. Without gratefulness, we become arrogant and self-centered. We begin to think we have achieved everything on our own. Thankfulness allows our hearts to maintain a righteous relationship with God. As human beings, we are susceptible to covetousness. We tend to focus on the things we don’t have. By continually giving thanks, we are reminded of how much we have.

Fortunately, giving thanks is part of every religion and every culture. It is a language that everyone can understand. In Islam particularly, gratefulness is part of our everyday lives. As stated in the Holy Quran, “And God will certainly reward the grateful” (3:45). When we start thanking God for the things we usually take for granted, our perspective changes. We realize that we could not even exist without the merciful blessings of God. Truly, giving thanks may be the best gift we can give to others and even ourselves. And, like the best things in life, it’s free!