Have you ever noticed how good it feels when someone gives a simple but heartfelt thank you? A simple acknowledgement can lift our spirits and give us a greater reason to keep going and to increase our efforts.
We know what a difference it can make to our attitude and how it can really lift us, which makes me wonder why we don’t make more of an effort to thank others.
Who is there in your life who deserves to be thanked?
This Saturday, the 28th of May, is the National Day of Thanksgiving in Australia. The day was first celebrated on the 17th of June in 2003 and is endorsed by the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition and the Governor General.
It’s simply a day to say thank you. The official website emphasises that this isn’t just another event, but an opportunity to thank those who help make up our community.
The National Day of Thanksgiving is a unique opportunity for Australians to celebrate and give thanks for our God given heritage as a nation and to demonstrate the God given values of honour, respect, thankfulness and gratitude towards our fellow man that have made us the great nation we are.
It is a day for us to pause as a nation and say thank you to God and to each other for those many things we often take for granted but which really make our lives worth living. Let us use this day to be a blessing to those who have been a blessing to us during the past year.
During my morning radio program on 98.5 Sonshine FM today I spoke to the Coordinator of the National Day of Thanksgiving, Brian Pickering. You can listen to our conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.
Who will you be thanking? Maybe you can give the local police a call to thank them for the tough work they do within our community. What about hospital workers? Do you know someone who provides a service the community that deserves a pat on the back?
How about someone at work who makes your day easier but often misses out on any recognition?
Is there someone in your family that deserves some thanks for the unseen things they do that help things run smoothly at your place?
When was the last time you said thanks to God for the gift of life itself?
Even though this is an Australian initiative, you don’t have to be living down under to take a few moments to reflect on those people who deserve to hear you say thank you.
Each year, as well as giving opportunity for us to thank the many people who make our lives and society better, we’re asked to focus on a specific sector of the community.
Those we can honour and thank as part of our National Thanksgiving Day celebrations are:
People involved in Entertainment, Music and Art.
Those who work in Radio, Television, Film and Print Media.
People employed in the area of Information Technology.
We also encourage you to acknowledge and thank people who work for Charitable Organisations, particularly those involved with the homeless, disadvantaged and poor.
This year we particularly need to thank those many people involved in Flood & Cyclone Relief and Recovery.
The website has a number of resources including e-cards to send to those people you want to thank.
Who will you be thanking this Saturday? Make your plans today.
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