Never-ending Gratitude

“For all the obstacles we see before us, gratitude and appreciation should prevail over concerns and complaints”. (Pope Francis, address to bishops, World Meeting of Families, 27 September, 2015)

Do we take things for granted or take them with gratitude? Sometimes we take for granted the very things that deserve our gratitude.

As people of God, we are instructed not to take things for granted. Scripture challenges us to practice gratitude. Psalm 92 declares simply: “It is good to give thanks to the Lord”. Paul commands us: “Always give thanks for everything to God” (Ephesians 5: 20).

The word “thanks” – or thanksgiving, thankful – appears over one hundred fifty times in Scripture. The imperative to “give thanks” appears thirty-three times.

Application for Ministry: There may be days when it might be easy to complain about various facets of our ministry and difficult to appreciate the gifts. Keep a journal – adding to it each week – of the gifts, blessings, and good things that happen. How often do you write thank-you notes to your students and colleagues, to their families, to all those who help you?

Meditative Musing: What if I awoke tomorrow morning with only the things I thanked God for today? Would that change how I pray today? Instead of Christmas cards, what if I sent cards of thanks, being specific about my gratitude for each person?

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the simple, everyday events and the momentous times, for the gifts that are obvious and for those that come as surprises. Amen.