When we pray in thanks, we become better people to be around and a greater gift to those who encounter us
As I reflect on the Scripture readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, one invitation seems to be to come to God with thanksgiving and praise. I think most of us know we’re supposed to do that, but we might have fallen into a pattern of going to God only when we need something or when we get what we want. Thanksgiving and gratitude are different. It is a different way to be present to God and a different form of prayer.
Some people may have routines for their prayer time, either in the morning or at night, to ensure they are aware of the many ways they are blessed with gifts during the day. They are true gifts that seem to have God, who is all-loving and all-good, as their source.
Having a pattern of thanksgiving and gratitude is especially important in our ordinary lives. These are the times when life can become habitual as we make our way through, distracted and diverted from the presence of God in our midst. Praying with gratitude and thanksgiving calls us to a deeper consciousness, either of what has already happened or what is currently happening in our lives.
A first step of praying with gratitude and thanksgiving is not taking anything for granted. That is hard for those of us who live in comfort and convenience. We take for granted electricity, running water, safe shelter, friends, family and our security. For those who live with a deep sense of anxiety and insecurity, the practice of praying with thanksgiving and gratitude might truly answer that anxiety.
In our prayer, it is good to have an ordinary conversation with God. For most people, that takes the form of a conversation with Jesus. We can close our eyes, center ourselves and become more conscious of what is always true. Jesus is with us always, no matter our circumstances or choices. From that state of mind and heart, we can begin to pray in thanksgiving and gratitude for the things we most often take for granted: people, things, events and situations that are simply there every day, not because we earn them but because we have them.
Once we have allowed that level of conversation to happen, we can pause, remember the day or the week that has just happened and allow our memory to recreate the moments that most touched our mind and heart. Remember the people and events that lifted us up, affirmed or forgave us. Notice the times when we were able to connect freely with friends and family. Notice the extraordinary blessings of the day or week. Most of us, when we do that, experience an uplifting of our hearts. Enjoy that moment when gratitude transforms us and becomes a gift to Jesus.
Some days, this type of prayer will come easily. Other days, the most challenging ones of our lives, are more difficult to grasp with thanksgiving and gratitude. The Serenity Prayer has a great line for those sorts of days. May we see hardship as a pathway to peace. Sometimes we have to pray that line even though we don’t believe it, and we fake it until we make it.
When we join together in prayers of praise and thanksgiving, we become better people to be around and a greater gift to those who encounter us.
