Express Gratitude
“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” ~ James Allen
Labor Day weekend, I gave the annual “state of the union” to the parish family at all the Masses. That is, I gave the annual finance report. Afterwards, I got complimented about how I run the parish that has been entrusted to me. Whenever people tell me what a wonderful job I am doing, I generally tell them that it is not me. It is the parish family. I do my best to enable others to do their work and I also do my best to stay out of their way. If they need support, I am there for them. If they need me to stay away, that’s just as fine. Whatever it takes to get the job done.
Expressing gratitude is so very important. People need to know that they are appreciated. People need to know that they are essential. People need to know that they matter. I am very grateful to my mother for hammering that into my thick skull at an early age. She was forever reminding her boys to say thank you to everybody for everything. She would take us to the store after Christmas to purchase thank you cards and would watch us as we addressed them to those who gave us gifts. She was a wonderful example of someone who understood the need to be grateful.
Thank you, Mom, for teaching that important quality to me. Thank you, parishioners one and all, who who give so much of your time and talent around the parish. And thank you to the readers of this Daily Reflection for providing me a reason to hone my thoughts and write them down on a daily basis.
FAITH ACTION: Make sure that you thank people as you go about your day. Do not wait to do it some day. Do it today.