Reason to Rejoice and Return Thanks

A quote from Catherine:

You have great reason to rejoice and return thanks to God
for blessing your humble efforts.


I look outside at the heaps of snow that are mountain sized and wonder if I will have to shovel again this week. I see the frost on the window, knowing it is 2 below zero and wonder how cold the car will be. I listen to the road report and caution our guest to not go to the northern part of the state until the roads are better. And I give thanks!
Yes, because I love snow, but that is not it. I give thanks because I am able to see the mountain of snow. One of our sisters cannot. I give thanks that I can shovel; many of our sisters are homebound because of the ice below the snow. I give thanks that it is 2 below zero because I know that the dormant trees and grasses and other plants need this to be vigorous in the spring. I give thanks that I have a car to use and don't have to walk or figure how to stay warm while waiting for the bus. I give thanks becasue we had a guest a few hours longer; she enriched our lives by her presence.

I try to remember to give thanks for the simple things so that the great things are all the more important. And how about you?

Is there something worth giving thanks in the cold winter? Is there something to give thanks in the everydayness of work or school? Do you give thanks that you have a car to use? Is there something small to give thanks for today, something that you looked at from the backside first- or the opposite side of the coin?

You do have great reason to rejoice because if you can read this, you have more blessings than millions of people today who cannot read, much less, have a computer. Let us give thanks even in our humble efforts for they are worth much to God.

www.sistersofmercy.org