Here’s a quiz. What is the difference between Thanksgiving and Thanks giving? The answer is space. I would contend that we cannot really have Thanksgiving unless we have space for thanks giving. Space creates the environment where thankfulness and gratefulness emerge. Thankfulness is muted by a rushed heart. Praise is stifled by a hurried spirit.

Thanksgiving conjures up vastly different images for different people: turkey and dressing, cooking in the kitchen, watching football with family, stressed relationships, hours cleaning the house in preparation, loneliness, and missed loved ones. Being thankful on Thanksgiving does not always come easily.

Why not create a new Thanksgiving tradition? Find some time early on Thanksgiving morning to go off by yourself and create some space. In that space begin giving thanks to God. At first, it may seem artificial and without real feeling. You may struggle because you don’t feel thankful. Whether it is sadness, loneliness, or depression, giving thanks may be the last thing on your mind. In that case, this new tradition might be exactly what you need.

I’ll save you some time. Here are the likely excuses for why you may not try this:

• I don’t have time– We carve out time for what is important to us. We can make the time. The question is whether it is important to us.
• I don’t feel thankful– Feelings often follow actions. The combination of taking time to be thankful and giving voice to that which we may take for granted can overcome the heavy heart.
• This seems so lightweight – A grateful person is far from lightweight. Gratefulness spurs hope. Hope inspires action. Action changes lives.
• It feels artificial– If it feels artificial, that is a problem we should resist. Though life is immensely hard for so many of us, we still all have so much to be thankful for. We may simply be out of practice. Isn’t Thanksgiving a good time to get started again?

Perhaps you may want to write out your thanks. Take your time… go slowly. You may want to walk outside and enjoy nature as you give thanks to God. Find a way to spend one-hour giving thanks in a way that will honor Him, give you joy, bring rest to your spirit, and enable real thanks to well up inside of you. It may be the first time in a long time you have given thanks. That’s okay. This could become your new favorite Thanksgiving tradition.

Many obstacles may arise in your mind as to why you cannot afford one hour to give thanks. Do it anyway. Somehow, make it happen. Make this Thanksgiving, thanks giving.

Happy Thanks giving!