Gratitude

The definition of gratitude is: the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Do we show gratitude to God for all that we have and who we are? I don’t mean when something wonderful happens or when a medical outcome is good, I mean do we thank God for our everyday lives? When we wake up in the morning do we whine and complain about having to get up too early or about what is in store for us throughout the day? And the same thing at night when we go to bed, are we thankful for all the day held for us? Even the time in between morning and night time we can be thankful.

Being thankful is part of being a prayerful person. Instead of thinking the worst when we wake up we should start the day with a quick prayer of thankfulness for the rest we just had. Then at night thank God for the day with all of its ups and downs. We take so many things for granted in our everyday lives that we sometimes forget to be grateful for those small things that make our days what they are.

During Lent in particular many of us vow to get into a more regular routine for prayer. Maybe as a family you could find time to pray together. I know a lot of parents pray with their children at bedtime, perhaps during Lent that prayer time could include all family members in one room. The rooms could be traded off so no one feels left out, or rather than praying in the bedroom maybe turn off all the daily living distractions and pray in your family room. Another routine you might start if you don’t already do it is to bless each other as you leave the house each day, maybe using your thumb and making a sign of the cross on your children’s or spouse’s forehead, saying a quick prayer of thanksgiving as you do so.

May this Lent result in gratitude becoming part of your everyday prayer rituals.