Ten Seconds of Gratitude

I am not shy about loving Thanksgiving!  There is something powerful in having a day reinforce the power and importance of gratitude, which is a core value of Judaism.

Many of us are familiar with Fred Rogers.  I admit I loved watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and even had one of those sweaters that he wore.  The man was a tzaddik, someone who positively impacted so many through his being our neighbor. 

In 1997, Fred Rogers received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy.  In his acceptance speech – which lasted just over a minute and a half, he provided a powerful model of gratitude and how easy and impactful it can be to spend just 10 seconds being thankful.  Here are his words:

Thank you.  Thank you.  Oh it’s a beautiful night in this neighborhood.  So many people have helped me to come to this night.  Some of you are here, some are far away, some are even in Heaven.

All of us have special ones who have loved us into being.  Would you just take, along with me, ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are.  Those who have cared about you and wanted what was best for you in life.  Ten seconds of silence. I’ll watch the time.

[10 Sec Pause]

Whomever you’ve been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they’ve made. You know they’re the kind of people television does well to offer our world.  Special thanks to my family and friends, and to my co-workers in Public Broadcasting, Family Communications, and this Academy for encouraging me, allowing me, all these years to be your neighbor.  May God be with you.  Thank you very much.

It was a most impactful moment with a number of people in the audience tearing up.

We begin our days with "Modeh ani - I am thankful." Three times a day, we say "Modim anachnu lach - We are grateful to You."  Jews are yehudim, which means we have gratitude built into our very beings.  These days, we all have legitimate reasons to be upset.  Many lives have been upended, and many people have lost so much.  Nevertheless, there is always a reason to be grateful. 

Take ten seconds of silence for gratitude.  I'll watch the time...