I’m looking forward to some pumpkin pie next week and a chance to reflect on my blessings: God’s grace, family and friends, good health, and meaningful work.

What makes you grateful? I’m not asking what you’re grateful for—but what does it take for us to feel grateful? And how does being grateful change you?

Earlier this week, Warren Watson posted his story on World Vision’s Gift Catalog Facebook page. After losing his job last October, he said, “I looked around my house and my life and knew that I lived better then 90 percent of the people/children around the world.” Rich in gratitude but not in funds, he invited people to help him purchase goats for people in need. He raised more than $2,000—enough for 32 goats!

Warren is still unemployed, and again this Christmas, he’s determined “to take a portion of the abundance that I have” and “forward it to those who have a real life need.”

That’s gratitude in action. That’s moving from thanks to giving.

Think about the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. What have you been given, five talents, two, or one? How many of us have been duped into thinking that we haven’t been given enough? A constant barrage of advertising messages tells us we’re always missing something that we need but don’t have.

Here’s a reality check: Plug your income into www.globalrichlist.com. Then search the Bible for what God has to say about the God-given responsibilities of the wealthy.

What would change in our lives if we truly acknowledged how much we’ve been given? How would a consistent perspective of gratitude change our lives, and our world? This Thanksgiving, how do we move from giving God thanks…to giving God everything?