Awakening to Explicit Gratitude

Several months ago, while waiting at an airport gate, I found myself seated next to a young girl and her mother. As our plane arrived, the girl burst with excitement: “There’s our plane!” Moments later she added, “I can see my luggage being loaded!” Her delight was so pure and contagious that it lifted me out of the distracted mental state I had slipped into. I silently offered a prayer of gratitude for the reminder that wonder is always available when we are present enough to see it.

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us look forward to traditions—family gatherings, shared meals, or simply a day of rest. In different seasons of my life, the holiday has meant all of these things. This year, though, I am choosing to celebrate in a more intentional way by beginning what I call an explicit gratitude journey. I chose the word explicit because I want my gratitude to be “definite and unreserved”—not habitual, not polite, but heartfelt.

I’ve noticed how easy it is to say “thank you” from a place of expectation rather than true feeling. This awareness has encouraged me to shift from expressing gratitude with my mind to experiencing gratitude from my heart. My intention is to make gratitude a conscious, daily practice—through journaling, mindfulness, and intentional expressions of appreciation with family and friends.

That same young girl happened to sit across the aisle from me once we boarded. As the plane lifted off, she exclaimed, “Whee, we’re taking off. This is fun!” Another simple reminder that joy is not something we wait for—it’s something we choose.

As we enter this season of thanksgiving, I invite you to join me in reclaiming a sense of wonder. Let this Thanksgiving be the beginning of a life shaped by explicit, wholehearted gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Rev. David