Gratitude and Sacrifice

The first Thanksgiving was in gratitude to God but also to the dead who had made it possible.

I saw an aphorism recently to the effect that humility is just realism.

Yes and no.

It is possible for the realist to adjust his ends to fit his limited means.  Everyone does this, we all do this. The proud do this.

Humility is when the righteous man or woman realizes their ends are right and tries to adjust their means to achieve them.  Gratitude is when they find themselves achieving their ends despite the limits of their means.

I feel today with great weight the debt I owe to my ancestors.  I feel with great weight would a gift this nation is that they made with the axe and with the womb.

Great is gratitude.

It transforms the barest home into a heaven and the smallest meal into a feast.  It makes happiness. It ennobles the soul.  It makes a small man great and a great man divine.  It is a treasure on Earth and in heaven, it is a gift fit to bring before Almighty God.

Great is gratitude, and it shall prevail.