Inbox Inspiration: November 27, 2019: Thankfulness

Thankfulness

Dear Friends, 
Being thankful is foundational for holy and healthy living.
Remembering the simple and special blessings in our lives is essential
for our being spiritual and mature persons.
Without this, we may just see the negatives and become negative.
Without this, we will lack a humble closeness with God.
So, I make two recommendations.
First, start each day with a prayer of thankfulness.
Be grateful to God for something, perhaps for just one thing –
maybe something we can easily take for granted like a friend or our eyesight,
or maybe the special blessing of an affirming word from someone.
At the beginning of each day, thank God for something or someone.
And second, identify for ourselves some graced memories.
Recall our parents who gave the best that they could to us.
Remember the teacher or coach who gave us that extra chance to do well.
Think back to the joy that a child brought to your life.
Store up some graced memories and keep them alive for yourself.
These two practices will help us to be grateful persons –
and that will enrich our relationships with God and with others.

“One of the scourges of modern society are problems with dementia – especially Alzheimer’s disease…. But perhaps a modern scourge of equal devastation today is ‘spiritual dementia’ – a sickness of the soul where we forget God’s innumerable blessings, and live in numbed insensitivity to the Spirit. It seems to be an ageless problem.” 
From Falling into Faith by Robert J. Miller.

May God bless us with grateful and joyful hearts. Amen.
Father Michael Schleupner