In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November. The American Thanksgiving is said to be modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth (now in Massachusetts) and the Wampanoag people. The modern holiday was proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 after years of lobbying by Sarah Joseph Hale. Thanksgiving is my favorite American holiday, and it infuses my favorite season—winter—with festive spirits.
Giving Thanks When You Cannot
With this spirit of thanksgiving, I would like to share two of my fundamental principles and practices: gratitude and charity. To be honest, these didn’t come naturally to me; I had to learn how to be grateful and how to give back.
Thankfulness comes easily when you have obvious blessings, but it becomes far more powerful when you can’t seem to find anything to be grateful for. I remember a time when I was angry at everything, including God. I had gone through a devastating experience, and it was difficult even to get out of bed.
A friend of mine, a wise old lady, told me to find at least one thing to be grateful for. I told her there was nothing. She gently said, “How about the breath you are taking now?”
So I forced myself to say, “Thank you for the breath that I took.” “Thank you for the step I can take.” Those simple words of thanks that I sent out to the divine cosmos helped lighten my heart. Over time, I learned how to be thankful even during the most difficult moments.
Would you try that, too—especially when you are feeling sad, angry, unhappy, or even devastated? See what happens…
Heavenly Security Deposit
Similarly, it is much easier to give when you have a lot. But when you give even though you don’t have much, God takes special note. I live by this principle: the more you give, the more you receive. This is not just a saying; in my experience, this practice always works.
I tithe (although it’s after tax). I have been doing so for over 25 years. My husband used to ask why I gave so much money to my church. I told him it was my security deposit. He would joke that if I didn’t give so much, I could buy more crystals and tarot decks. True—maybe. Or maybe not. Either way, I have never needed the money that I gave away.
The idea that tithing can offer protection is a prominent belief within many Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian traditions, drawing primarily from the Old Testament book of Malachi. I believe that whatever I tithe belongs to God and was never mine to begin with.
Creating Space for All Your Blessings
The truth is that you need to make room for all the blessings the Divine Cosmos has for you. The simplest law of attraction is to give in order to receive. The focus should be on the action of giving and the emotion behind it—not the amount. Give wholeheartedly. True generosity is fearless, offering presence, safety, and compassion.
In my own experience, giving makes me feel better. Giving activates the brain’s reward system, releasing “feel-good” chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. This increases happiness, reduces stress, and creates a natural cycle of kindness and positive feelings. Through this simple law of attraction, giving can help you generate a sense of purpose and feel connected to something larger than ourselves—the Divine Heart.
During this holiday season, and at any time, choose a charity and consider donating your time or money to an organization whose mission aligns with your values.
The Divine Cosmos wants to give you so much more. All you need to do is make room for these blessings by giving—then receive and accept.
