Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-26
WHAT is THANKSGIVING?
By DR.. Frank Crane

Thanksgiving is not something that de-
ponds upon things to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving is state of Mind.
Most of us, when the subject is mentioned
cast about to find what things there are for
which we should be thankful 1t is matter
OF peculiar psychological interest to observe
this experiment. For often those whose
hands are fullest of earth's privileges seem
most forlorn, while those who can find little
of the worlds favors among their possessions
grateful for everything. It all depends upon
seem most grateful.
AS matter of fact, the amount of things
we have to be thankful for has not the
slightest thing to do with our Thanksgiving.
We may be thankful for anything, and un-
whether our face is to the east.
lion dollars or a saucerful of diamonds Or
we may be thankful for so small boon as
that we are still alive. 1t is even possible, if
you are going to be hanged, to be thankful
that you are going to be hanged with ropa
and not with halter.\
So you see it is all a matter of relation.
Thanksgiving is not thing. 1t is relation
between two things.
AS Thomas Carlyle expressed it: Happi.
ness is common fraction, of which the
numeratOr is what you have and the demon
lnator is what you think you ought to have
And happiness is the dividend obtained by
dividing the numerator by the denomination
Still, there are some advantages which ap-
peal to every one of us. There are some un
htiHou DioooIASs WHICH we all nave ana IOT
which we all ought to be thankful, according
| to the degree of our intelligence
There are five in particular. 80
The first is Love. Not that some one loves
you, but that you love some one Whoever
is capable of Love N any degree, whether
that Love is requited or not, should give
thanks. For it ought to show him that he
has life in him, some of the sparks of that
fire which created the world.
2. Service. This does not mean the Serv-
ice others give us, but the Service we are able
to give others. Whoever can serve his fellow
men, even in the least degree should be
heartily thankful fer he has some excu e
for living.
3. Work. The joy of life is self-expression
and no soul that has not fund it's work can
express itself. If in your small corner you
nave found some sort of work that you can
do for your fellows work they think enough
Of to pay you money for, you have occasion
for thankfulness. At least you are not
dead beat ii the universe
4. Faith. II you believe in something good;
II within you remains some mistaken conf
dence in the FORCES that make the good the
true, and the beautiful in the world you may
| be thankful. For there is no cell in that he'll
where living souls imprison themselves sc
! dark and fearsome as the cell that is unlit
| by any faith in good men, in good women
and the good Creator who moves us all
D. Lire. Ii you are alive you ought to be
thankful For as Charles Wagner says: The
| fundamental creed is a belief in life If
i therefore, there is in you any simple Joy OF
I>ex1stence, you may be thankful, because it is
out of that seed that there grows the tree of
| contentment.
10 be thankful, therefore, is not complex
act, depending upon circumstances, but a
| quite simple act, depending upon Adjust
ment.