RECENTLY I FOUND AN INTERESTING, if somewhat skeptical, article on the Internet called "An Epidemic of Gratitude" and subtitled, "Our World is Awash in Gratitude, Most of it Insincere." (www.associatedcontent.com). The writer concludes that "by far the greater part of what passes for appreciation these days is not the genuine article, but a facsimile, and a poor one at that."
Whether or not this assessment is wholly accurate, we can be grateful for this thought-provoking point being made so bluntly. It invites us to think about what constitutes gratitude, especially around this time of Thanksgiving celebrations in the US and Canada. After all, if we want to give thanks at home and in our places of worship, we surely do want it to be sincere!
Perhaps US President John F. Kennedy put his finger on it when he said, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
