“Living the Faith” by Sister Margie Lavonis, CSC

There are special times during the year when most of us make an extra effort to express our gratitude and appreciation for the people in our lives and the gifts we have been given — Mother’s and Father’s Day, birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, to name a few. There is also a day for grandparents, bosses and secretaries. These occasions are the bread and butter of many retailers. For the most part they are marketing tools to get us to spend our money. On the other hand, they serve as reminders to us of the importance to give thanks.

As Christians we know that all we have is a gift, including the people in our lives. And just as it is important to express our love, we also are called to show our gratitude, not just on special days, but always.

Gratitude is something we learn. Many parents try to teach their children to be thankful. One often hears a mother or father say to a small child after he or she receives something, “What do you say?” I also was taught to write thank-you notes when I received a gift or was invited to a dinner, etc. Now people send e-mails or virtual cards.

In our world it is so easy to get wrapped up in our much too busy lives that we can forget to perform even simple acts of courtesy. Too often we fail to express our appreciation for acts of kindness we receive. Many times we won’t even think about it. Even worse, some of us may consider some good deeds done as things others are supposed to do.

I have heard people say they rarely thank people in the service industries because “that is what they get paid for.” Some children have a similar attitude about their parents. They don’t think about thanking them for what they do because they feel that is what parents are supposed to do. Then there are those, as my father used to say, who think the world owes them a living. We can take a lot of things and people for granted, including God.

As in all meaningful relationships, gratitude also is important in our relationship with God. When it comes right down to it, all we are and have comes from our gracious God. A good habit to develop in our evening prayer or some other time of the day is to reflect on the past 24 hours and give God thanks for the many blessings, great or small, we have received. Even the fact that we had another day of life is something to thank God for.

I have written many times about my admiration of the people of Uganda, East Africa, before, but it is worth doing it again. The people in that country have a beautiful custom of giving thanks for everything in their lives. The word they use is “webali.” Any time a person goes to someone’s home, the host thanks that person for visiting. Or if someone has a conversation with another, that person would thank him or her for speaking. They express gratitude for every human action no matter how big or small. It is an important part of their culture.

I don’t think we have to go that far, but I do believe our world would be a better place if we regularly expressed our genuine appreciation for life and all that we receive from God and one another.

St. Paul says it simply in Colossians, “... Always be thankful.” And I would add, and don’t forget to express it.

Did you enjoy this article? If so, browse our “Living the Faith” archive to read some of Sister Margie’s past reflections.