27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Learn the Language of Thanksgiving

Years ago, I read the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. She narrates in an introduction to one of her books:

A friend dared me to start counting one thousand things I loved. I took the dare, accepted the challenge, kept track of one thousand things, one thousand gifts — a thousand graces — on a quiet, unassuming blog. Before I knew it, thankfulness to God began to fully change me. What I actually found — startling! — was more daily wonder and surprising beauty than I ever expected. And in a few short years, this daily hunt for God’s grace, His glory, had ushered me into a fuller life. A life of joy!

 

During this month of October, we will be hearing a series on the “Life-changing Perspective of Thanksgiving”. The themes over these four weeks are:

  • The perspective of Thanksgiving
  • The exercise of naming gifts
  • “Eucharistifying” our life
  • Making gratitude our attitude

A lot of times, we speak the language of selfishness or of entitlement. We fail to recognize those who have gone before us and what has allowed us to be here. We are myopic and see only one perspective. Focusing on God’s gifts allows us to see a bigger picture and open our hearts to joy.

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world (Sarah Ban Breathnach)

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this month, may we learn the life-changing perspective of gratitude!

A few resources that could help us delve into this theme are:
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (https://annvoskamp.com)
What Happens at Mass by Jeremy Driscoll
Surviving to Thriving by Steve Foran (https://www.gratitudeatwork.ca)