accion de gracias/giving of thanks

I think when you look at a word/phrase in another language, it can really put things in perspective. For example, "Thanksgiving" in Spanish is "El Dia de Accion de Gracias." And if you just take out "the day", you get "Accion de Gracias". The action of thanking. When you have "giving" attached to "thanks", sometimes you forget that it's the "giving of thanks". 

Why is it so important that we have such a holiday, even if we don't really care about Pilgrims and Indians past the third grade, and all we can focus on is the food? Why is it so important that we do give thanks? 

Because certain things aren't always understood. Saying things aloud makes you really focus on what it is that makes you thankful, and the world around you can realize that without having to do any guesswork. Especially people.

When you thank someone for being there for you, for encouraging and loving you, for making you laugh, for inspiring and motivating you, for simply smiling at you everyday, that relationship just gets that much stronger. You can see exactly how that other person feels, and sometimes, people can surprise you. People you didn't expect to have impacted or touched, when you hear a simple "Thanks" come out of their mouths, it's just a thrilling feeling.

I am thankful for my family, for their unconditional love.

I am thankful for my high school friends, for their continuous interest and love and the memories we have shared.

I am thankful for GCC, for the amazing new community that has enveloped me in joy.

I am thankful for my family group, for the growing-bonding times as a family in Christ and as quirky kiddos having fun.

I am thankful for my Overflow family, for the joint efforts in lifting up praise and making Monday nights/Saturday mornings awesome.

I am thankful for my hallmates, for their support and jokes and random late-night conversations.

I am thankful for everyone who has ever offered me advice, kind words, or a smile; constructive criticism, wake-up calls, or a will to become stronger.

And in that same way, it's just so important to always thank our God. He loves us even when we don't give our thanks. When we hate Him, when we push Him away, when we say, "There is absolutely nothing worth thanking you for." And the funny thing is, what He has given us is exponentially greater than what any other person or group in our lives has given: our lives on Earth, and our lives after death. What could honestly be more important than those two things?

Honestly. 

So this Thanksgiving, think about what God has done for you and thank Him. 

And thank every single person around you - your family, your friends, your pets, whatever. They'll really appreciate it.

Happy Thanksgiving, darlings.