As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday (in the U.S.), we offer some thoughts on gratitude, especially for the little things we often overlook.

“Hurry is a hard habit to break, and noticing is a discipline easily eroded.” – Marilyn McEntyre*

Noticing, simply paying attention, is the first step toward gratitude. McEntyre wrote the words above in response to Robert Frost’s poem, “A Prayer in Spring,” which begins, “O give us pleasure in the flowers today.” The poet then prays that he not shift his thoughts far away to the time of harvest, but focus on what lies before him: “… keep us here / all simply in the springing of the year.”

Keep us here, fully present, in this moment. I thought of that as Jan and I watched a delightful episode of the PBS series, Nature, entitled “The Elephant and the Termite.” Only because zoologists and filmmakers gave patient, close attention were marvelous wonders revealed. When termites build their mounds in arid southern Kenya, they bring salts and other minerals up to the surface of the earth. Elephants, needing those salts, will trample and dig up abandoned termite mounds. When the rains come, it is those low spots, dug up by the elephants, that become water holes, sustaining all sorts of life.

The episode was filled with visually stunning scenes: a tiny frog drinking a drop of water from a leaf; chameleon eggs, lying buried during dry season, hatching once the waters come. Tiny details, marvelous details, easily overlooked. Patient attention is needed, but easily abandoned in our hectic lives. “Hurry is a hard habit to break, and noticing is a discipline easily eroded.”

In Frost’s poem, he struggles to stay focused on the gifts of spring, to not worry about the future, “the uncertain harvest.” Our future these days is filled with uncertainties, from the pandemic, to polarized politics, to climate change. It is easy to shift our focus away from the gracious gifts that each day brings. But – as I just discovered while writing this essay – even the best book I know about climate change (On Time and Water, by Andri Snaer Magnason) begins with these quoted words: “Take notice what you notice.”

Noticing, simply paying attention, is the first step toward gratitude.

*When Poets Pray (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2019), p. 24.

In a rush at the grocery store, I found a spot at the 15- items- or- less aisle behind a man with only a six-pack of tallboys on the checkout belt. “Luck!” I thought. Then he asked for chewing tobacco. The checker scurried on a labyrinthine path to locate the tobacco case key, then to offer at least a half dozen types and brands of tobacco to the timid customer.

Meanwhile, I leaned against the checkstand facing customers in the self- check area. There, an elderly man appeared to be mentoring his great-grandson, about 8 yrs old, on how to check out groceries with special attention to produce and untagged items. For some unexplainable reason this little thing touched me deeply. I spoke simple gratitude to the two: “In a world of meanness, I am grateful for this (gesturing to the connection between the two). Seeing this warms my heart. Thank you for lifting my spirit today.” The little boy’s face glowed. Tears rose in the elderly man’s eyes.

Later that day, I opened my computer to see the article headline: “Thanksgiving is Almost Here. Should You Care?” The article lists the pros and cons of “Doing Thanksgiving.” Should You Care?

I will get straight to the point. There are inexhaustible reasons to care. Let me share two of my reasons, about the little things.

Sunday, I was able to worship (via tv) in the Indiana church where my brother (d.1999) worshipped. I treasure the memories of being in that sacred space, that beautiful Basilica, with someone so dear to me.

Yesterday, because of a name mentioned in a church newsletter where Bill served 20+ years ago, I was able to hear the story of a little boy who touch Bill’s heart. As I learn more about Bill’s tenderness, I am more and more grateful for the little things.

Should You Care? I do care. We will do Thanksgiving.

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