"Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, I give you praise, Father."

Luke 10:21

I woke up approximately fourteen minutes ago. I am thankful I had a bed to sleep in. I am thankful to live in a house. I give thanks I did not go to bed hungry. 40,000 people in our world die each day due to starvation. I am thankful I have never had to go without food. The warm shower was a gift as I know a majority of people in our world today and for many days/weeks will go without a shower, let alone warm water. I am thankful for my teeth which will allow me to eat food today. I am thankful that I have dental insurance to keep my teeth and mouth healthy. I am thankful for my dad who practiced dentistry for over 40 years and gave me a resounding example of what it means to be a selfless servant in the manner of Christ. I am thankful for all the work dad did for the poor. I am thankful for the poor who teach me my life must be lived for them. I am thankful that JOY (Jesus Over You) happens when your life is a life lived for the highest spiritual good of others.

You get my drift? You see what I am doing in the above paragraph? Just like Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, I am trying to give praise to the Father. To be honest, I woke up crabby. But the best way to eliminate that yuck from my life is by choosing to be thankful.

All is gift.

Instead of just celebrating Thanksgiving one day a year, let us celebrate Thanks-living each moment of our existence. Thanksgiving is just taking one day out of hundreds of day to give thanks whereas Thanks-living is an eternal stream of thanks where we do not let a day or hundreds of days go by without thanking God. Give thanks all the time, for everything.

The very core of our faith, that which we are commanded to do at least once a week on Sunday’s and if we do not go it is a sin, is The Eucharist. “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.” We are ordered by The Living God to give thanks and Father knows what the best life for us will be. What is more uplifting than being around a thankful person? Personally I like to be around complaining people- just kidding!

A couple of suggestions. In preparation for church, pick one new thing you are thankful for each time you go. Make sure you give that thankful offering each time you go to mass. And do this the rest of your life. See if you can come up with something new for every future mass you will participate in on earth. Secondly, get a thanksgiving journal. Each and every day, just write ONE new thing you are thankful for.

Be a Thanks-living person.

+Fr. John

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