Giving Thanks

In speaking about Human Rights, which was then perceived of as an idea, Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Where after all do human rights begin ? In small places close to home; so close and personal that they cannot be seen on any map of the world." And with just a day to go for the Joy of Giving Week, this is where we could start our giving, with our neighbours, with our family, with ourselves. Why ourselves? Simply because unless we can cherish, value and respect ourselves and what we enjoy, we would find it practically impossible to cherish, value and respect others. Without this feeling of being cared for and caring, it is difficult to give with joy. When one gives out of a sense of compulsion, there is no joy in it. All giving, should begin with a Thank you.
Today, let us resolve to : Give thanks for our mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, our children and friends and neighbours, to the bosses and colleagues, to all the people who care for us and who we care for.
Give thanks for the food we eat thrice a day if not more
Give thanks for our peaceful sleep
Give thanks for our good health
Give thanks for our freedom and our rights: political, civil, economic and cultural
Give thanks to the trees that blossom, the birds that chirp
Give thanks to all those anonymous hands that toil to grow our food, make our roads, run our public utility services,
Give thanks to all those protecting us from intruders, giving up their sleep so we can
We could go on for the list of those we need to thank are many and our memories short.
Above all let us give thanks for living in a country that allows us to rant and rave, and curse and bless, a country at once proud and humble, a country that disperses sorrow and joy in full measure, a country that welcomes and assimilates, a country that allows us to be. We will join hands to make this wonderful country proud by joining wholeheartedly in the Joy of Giving Week. Let us spread the word throughout India. Let us spread joy.