I found thee two quotes from G.K. Chesterton, my favorite English thinker from the last century (along with Lewis and Tolkien and Sayers and -- Oh well, I guess there are a few ...) on the subject of GRATITUDE — a good thing to think about during Thanksgiving:
When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs? ~G.K. Chesterton
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton
The first one is just clever, and reminds us to get our priorities right during these holiday seasons. On that last one, I just love the idea that gratitude is “happiness doubled by wonder.” It works well for followers of Jesus, since we look to God in wonder over his indescribable gift, and are thankful for all his bounty.
But Chesterton also makes me grateful for those who use their minds in creative ways. He was amazing -- a journalist, playwrite, theologian, novelist, debater and overeater (he weighed 300 pounds).
Thank you, God, for your image embedded in humankind -- the swirl of your fingerprints are all over us.
