The emotion of gratitude has received a lot of positive press in the last few years. There are many speakers who specialize in this topic, and on this day that we remember September 11, 2001, I want to share my appreciation for this powerful emotion. It was an unbelievable day 22 years ago that most of us who were alive for it will never forget. It is a reminder to practice being grateful for small things and big things every day.
My friend Ken shared his thoughts from his journal on gratitude with me a few years back, which I will share in this post with his permission. I think it might give you a chance to better experience and understand the emotion of gratitude for yourself.
Gratitude
How do we express it? How do we make being grateful sincere? How grateful are you?
If we are not careful, a form of expression that we express as gratitude is really either appeasement or manipulation. Appeasement could be originally fleshed out as a child when they are told, “Go thank Mrs. Jones for making our family that peach cobbler.” So, we learn to say thank you to placate others.
On the other hand, for example, we are told by others things like, “Oh, you are so great at writing speeches.” Then the request comes, “Can you help write this speech for me?” Because of that, we end up guarding ourselves against accepting gratitude, because it actually may end up requiring more work from us. We want to receive and express it but are uncertain on how to genuinely do so.
Ken’s Story
Ken’s story is that he was at a loss for words because he had liver cancer and was in need of a transplant to save his life. I too was at a loss for words and wanted to explore how to express gratitude in this situation. Thank you Ken for your courage and willingness to share your story and to model for so many of us what it means to be grateful:
“On Sunday, January 19th we rushed to Tampa General Hospital as we were told a liver was available, then I was wheeled into surgery on Tuesday, January 21st.
At times, modern medicine makes us think surgeries are commonplace. Yet it is almost impossible for me to fathom that a group of medical personnel that has successfully removed a liver from someone who had just died would exchange it for my cancerous liver. How do I say thank you for that?
The doctors continue to tell me that I am doing exceptionally well. That causes me to think my purpose for “doing well” is much different than the doctors’ purposes.
Prayers are appreciated for pain relief, being able to sleep, and for overall healing. The doctors tell me that the first 3 months are very important in terms of my body not rejecting the new liver. The great news is that we are all on the right track.
I have so many people to thank. The medical personnel, many of whom I do not know, and my family and friends. At this point in my early healing stage, simply talking has been extremely exhausting.
I have, however, listened to every voicemail, read every text, and seen every card. Please know that as I have read each caring gesture, I have intentionally thought back to a time God used you in my life and I gave thanks to our Creator for you. Each and every one of you.
That is how I have chosen to express my gratitude. I have sincerely thanked God for each one of you.”
The Power of Gratitude
I think you will agree with me that Ken has a lot to be grateful for. I think that we all have this powerful spirit within us. To be thankful. To be courageous. To celebrate.
You do not have to have had a liver transplant or go through a tragedy to be thankful and experience gratitude. I, for one, am grateful for you, the people who have crossed my path in life. You have added more joy to me than you will ever know.
Ken, I get it. I am grateful to God for just one more day to be alive and to be able to be in a relationship with other humans. Thank you, my friend, for your courage.
The Heroes of 9/11
I want to express thank you to the first responders and their dedication to assisting their community in a time of great distress. Thank you is not even a strong enough word to express Americans’ gratitude.
One one the worst days in America’s history saw some of the bravest acts in that same history. Americans everywhere have so much gratitude for your work and sacrifices and I pray for each and every one of you and your families. We will always honor the heroes of 9/11 with sincere gratitude for their acts of service.