Thanksgiving, giving thanks, and/or being thankful is both expressive and confessional.
In a capitalistic society there are a lot of goods and services exchanged every day. And if you’re like us, you tend to say “thanks” to the employee(s) providing the goods or services.
For instance, when the waitress brings our meal, we say “thanks.” When the hotel clerk hands us room keys, we say “thanks.” When the uber driver takes us to our final destination, we say “thanks.”
As we enter the Thanksgiving season, such exchanges got us thinking about this whole idea of thanks, thanksgiving, or giving thanks.
The “thanks” described above are cultural mannerism that we use to be polite. But are such words full of true thanksgiving? Are we really giving thanks for someone bringing us our food? Our hotel keys? Dropping us off at our final destination?
Weren’t we supposed to receive the food? The hotel keys? A lift?
Here’s a question that comes to our minds:
Are you truly giving thanks if you believe you are entitled to what you give thanks for?
In other words, if you believe you are entitled to something, have earned something, or have paid for something, can you truly be thankful for it?
It seems that we live in an entitlement culture.
People think they are entitled and owed certain things.Take kids for instance. Many believe they are entitled to play the gaming system as long as they want. Many believe they are owed a smart phone like all their friends. Many believe dinner at the house should be menu-style as opposed to what momma is cooking.
They want bedtimes to be optional. Thus, when parents allow them two hours for gaming, cook them a nice homecooked meal, or send them to a bedroom with a bed, mattress, covers, and pillows, they aren’t necessarily …
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