"Say thank you," we teach our children from the time they can begin to imitate even the least interpretable syllables. And we repeat these words many times a week; to our children, our spouses, the person who hands us our receipt at the grocery store, the receptionist who hands us our bill at the doctor's, the young man who remembers to hold the door for us as we enter the building (and what a pleasant surprise if that young man happens to be our own son!).
And to the Lord. We thank the Lord daily. But have our eyes been opened to all for which we should be thankful?
That is really the purpose of this "exercise." This exercise is really more of an "active prayer." An exercise in SEEing. An exercising in acknowledging the glorious Truth that ALL IS GRACE.
So, I'm beginning my own list here. Today. My list of 1000 gifts. And I feel confident that my list will expand beyond the confines of that challenge.
I begin with the "big stuff" (not necessarily in order of importance):
1. Life. Out of all the possibilities of humanity God could have created, He created me.
2. The Word. Incarnate, written and living, sacramental and nourishing.
3. Faith. True Faith. Faith in the Truth (Who also happens to be the Way and the Life).
4. Love. We come from Love, we are returning to Love, and Love is rescuing us every step of the way.
5. Freedom. Political, personal, spiritual. Freedom in Christ.
6. Family. We are never alone, not for one moment of our existence. Some of us are less alone than others ;-)
7. Children. They prove God hasn't given up on us yet.
8. Laughter. I'm sure this is the "original music," sung before the "original sin."
9. Work. Our way of serving Him by serving others, our way of being creative and useful.
10. Emptiness. It is emptiness that keeps us reaching for more, until we realize only HE can fill us.
Yes. I'm more grateful than I recognized for each of these things and all that they imply. And THAT is a profoundly satisfying way to begin the week!
I pray you are grateful as well.
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