Let each day be one of thanksgiving

by Sr. Margie Lavonis, CSC

When I taught social studies in Washington, D.C - more than a few years ago - one of our sisters was home from our mission in Uganda, East Africa, and I asked her to speak to my seventh graders about life there. One thing she said that always stuck with me was that it was a custom for the Ugandan people to express thanks for everything people did for them, even down to the simplest action. The word they use is "webali" which simply means, "thank you."

Any time a person went to someone’s home, the host would thank that person for visiting. Or if someone had a conversation with another that person would thank him or her for speaking. They expressed gratitude for every human action no matter how big or small. It was and is a part of their culture.

This life of appreciation and gratitude left quite an impression on me. As I reflect on this beautiful custom, I am aware of just how much our American culture can learn from these people who are so grateful for life and all it brings.

In my own life I know how much I take for granted. I expect the furnace to work when it is cold; that I will have food when I am hungry; that I will have health care when I need it; and so on. There are so many things in life - big and small - I just expect and often forget that everything I have and everything I am is a gift from God.

How do we cultivate an attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude in our own lives? One way is to sit down in an atmosphere of quiet and reflect upon all that God has given us, including all that we take for granted or just come to expect.

Do we have to encounter a blind or deaf person to thank God for the gift of sight and hearing? Do we take for granted the ability to read and listen to music? Does it take the loss of a parent or a brother or sister to be thankful for the members of our families and the love and care we receive from them? Do we thank people who go out of their way to do something for us? Do we send notes to show our thanks and appreciation for gifts given or for invitations to meals in the homes of others? Do we acknowledge special kindnesses done to us? Do we ever sit down and thank God for the many people who have touched our lives and have influenced us in some way or other?

A spirit of thanksgiving should be in the heart of every Christian because we know that we ultimately depend on God for everything we have and are. It is God’s love that keeps us and all of creation in existence.

Finally, the Mass is the ultimate offering of thanksgiving to God. When we celebrate the

Eucharist we give thanks for the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The word Eucharist means thanksgiving.

Let us not take for granted anything we have received and remember to show our gratitude to God for all God gives to us each day. Let us always be Eucharistic people, a people with grateful hearts.

As we celebrate our national holiday of Thanksgiving, let us not neglect to thank anyone who has done something for us, especially our God! Like the Ugandan people, let thanksgiving be the attitude of our hearts. Let us strive to make this attitude a way of life. May we learn to appreciate all that we have while we have it and not take our lives and our gifts for granted. And don’t wait until Thanksgiving Day! Let each day be one of thanksgiving.

Sr. Margie Lavonis is a member

of the Sisters of the Holy Cross

Congregation, Notre Dame, IN .