
How To Ruin Thanksgiving In One Word: Comparison
Teddy Roosevelt once said, โComparison is the thief of joy.โ And while I donโt believe he was wrong, I do believe that comparison can also be another kind of thief; a thief of gratitude.
I think itโs rather obvious that if youโre comparing, youโre not being grateful for what you have. But letโs get a little bit deeper than that.
What I Learned In Africa
Last summer, I went on a humanitarian trip to Ghana that probably could have changed my life a lot more than it did. You see, it was my first time leaving the country, and people were warning me left and right about the depressing scenes of poverty I would behold. C’mon, thoughโit’s the 21st Century! I’d seen photos and videos on the Internet; I knew what I was getting myself into.
If Iโm being 100% honest with you, though, it wasnโt half as bad as I pictured it. Not because the Ghanaian way of living isnโt different from ours; not because there wasnโt any poverty; but because it wasnโt nearly as depressing as everyone makes it out to be.
Obviously, I only saw one small part of Africa. But from what I did see, those people were 10 times more happy than anyone I know in the U.S. Yes, they struggle with disease, and feeding their families, and finding clean waterโthings that I will hopefully never have to endureโbut they were always smiling and so happy to see us without a single complaint ever crossing their lips.
One evening, as my travel group sat and discussed this very topic, someone mentioned that they shouldnโt complain ever again after seeing what we did. One of our โguidesโ (for lack of a better term) then mentioned this quote:
Saying you canโt be sad because someone else has it worse is like saying you canโt be happy because someone has it better.
Read that again and replace the word โhappyโ with โgratefulโ.
Sometimes, when we see that someone else has it worse than us, we feel the need to deprive ourselves of gratitude because we donโt โdeserveโ it. I would like to argue that maybe we donโt deserve much as humans, but God certainly deserves our gratitude, no matter what our circumstances! We owe a lot to Himโespecially gratitude. Itโs honestly the least we can give.
Related: 16 Unique Ways to Express Gratitude This Holiday Season
What I Learned In Arkansas
There was a time on my mission when I struggled to find the good in my situation. The only thing I wanted was to come home; but thankfully (pun intended), I stayed. During that time, I got an email from my older sister that said:
Find as much joy as you can in the process. If not joy, then at least marvel at His works.
Again, replace the word โjoyโ with โgratitudeโ. If you find yourself struggling to be grateful, at least God made an awe-inspiring world for you to look atโfor which there is no comparison!
What I Learned At Home

No matter the circumstances, my parents taught that you always begin a prayer by telling God what you’re thankful for. Gratitude is a coexistent feeling; whether you’re lonely, upset, excited, or content, it can still be felt simultaneouslyโit’s just a matter of remembrance.
My mother wasn’t much of a quote hanger-upper. But she did, however, place this one right in the entryway of our old house:
God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sunshine without rain; but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.
If there is one person I know who could tell you about pain, sorrow, and rain, it’s my mother. Even while fighting cancer, she never failed to express gratitude for family, temple work, and her health (it was always better than expected until the end.)
Related: 5 Ways to Smile Through Cancer
When it seems just about everyone else in your life has it better than you do, I promise there is always something to be grateful for! Comparison is looking out. But the oppositeโgratitudeโis looking up.
What are some unique ways in which you show gratitude? Share in the comments below!