Something I never reflected on when I was younger was how blessed I am.  My family was never a sentimental group.  On Thanksgiving we never came close to even entertaining the idea of holding hands and sharing what we are grateful for.  We barely even said grace before meals (it really is a miracle I’m a priest) let alone did other “extra” things.  I was completely ungrateful for the awesome things I had in my life like a bed and house to sleep in, food on the table to eat, running (and clean) water, and heat!  These are just basic necessities that most teenagers aren’t grateful for.  Because I wasn’t grateful for the bare necessities I certainly wasn’t grateful for my car, electronics, my Catholic education, and the many other things I was blessed to have.  

    I’m being very intentional to not use the word “privileged” because while all these things are gifts, my parents worked their @$$ off to provide me with these gifts.  I grew up in a lower middle class home where nothing was handed to us on a silver platter.  I still don’t consider my childhood as a “privileged” one.  I see my adult life as a priest being privileged; however, my childhood was not.  But I did have many blessings that I unfortunately never recognized and so was not grateful for them.

    I bring this up because even today I struggle with being grateful for things in my life.  I try to recognize the gifts and blessings God and others give me and to return a prayer or word of thanks to them; but, I don’t always recognize the gift.  Today I think it’s much easier to recognize gifts and to be grateful because of the internet and the various medias out there that show us the world and how people live every day.  It’s super easy to see how poor and impoverished countries struggle to provide for their people.  A simple Google or Youtube search will show how blessed we are in America.  

    This Thanksgiving I’m certainly going to spend some time in prayer being thankful for what God has blessed me with.  I heard someone on the radio use the phrase: “have an attitude of gratitude.”  That’s so important and helpful for us to become intentional disciples of Jesus and to grow in our own spiritual lives.  An attitude of gratitude is necessary to be a saint and it’s something that we can only truly practice if we receive the Sacraments regularly (especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation) and educate ourselves on what’s going on in the world.  

    I hope you and your families have a very blessed and joyful Thanksgiving!  Be grateful for what you have to your family and the Lord.  What’s the best prayer of thanksgiving to God?  Going to Mass!  So, go to Mass on Thanksgiving!  You can always record the parade. :-)

Happy Thanksgiving!!