Season of Gratitude “All I want is a little appreciation for what I do around here. A ‘thank you’ now and then.” “Why should I thank you for helping around the house? It’s your responsibility just as much as it’s mine. You’re not helping me out; you’re just doing your share.” The argument continues; we […]
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Season of Gratitude Oh, for this to be over and finished! So much effort, so much work, so little recognition, so little visible progress. And even recognition is so fleeting. Here today, gone tomorrow. I am so discouraged! But I have a reason to get up every morning. I have work to do that gives […]
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Season of Gratitude For days she doctored and nursed her sick kids, cleaning up vomit, washing sheets, spooning out chicken noodle soup, and finally they’re well. They’ve returned to school! The phone rings. The school nurse reports that the “bug” has bitten her son again and that he needs to come home. She feels miserable […]
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Season of Gratitude How many times do I need to say, “I love you,” before someone believes me? Once? Twice? Seventy times seven? Can I ever say it too much if I truly mean it? How many times do I need to say, “thank you,” to change an attitude? Once? Twice? Seventy times seven? You […]
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Season of Gratitude The strains of Pachelbel’s Canon in D Minor repeat over and over, intertwined with the gentle sounds of ocean. “Mom, that’s the same song over and over again. Aren’t you sick of it?” Surprisingly, I’m not–I need to hear the music for at least thirty minutes before I finally begin to relax. […]
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Season of Gratitude “I’m sorry,” the two fighting boys begrudgingly say; they shake hands under the watchful eyes of the playground supervisor. They don’t truly mean it, of course, but at least the effort was a start. For the moment, the apologies put an end to their fight. I don’t always have to mean it […]
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Season of Gratitude In the worst situations, in our darkest hours, we can always discover a reason to give thanks. Hard to believe? It’s true. And when I can find no human reason to give thanks, the Spirit helps me offer thanks. I don’t always need a reason. Sometimes I just need to do it. […]
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This is how I NaNoWriMo. A large latte and an Egg McMuffin and I’m good for a three hour stint of writing at McDonalds. I was able to get my favorite booth, one where I can sit with my back to everyone else in the fast-food chain and look out the window. I can usually […]
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Season of Gratitude – All Souls Day As a girl attending a Catholic grade school, I was taught to pray for the poor souls in purgatory on this day. We were encouraged to make visits to the church and pray a special set of prayers. For each visit a soul would be set free–or so […]
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Season of Gratitude – All Saints Day We are all called to sainthood. We are called to remember all those saints who have gone before us and are now part of the great communion of saints in heaven. Some we know by name, others remain part of the nameless masses, and yet their presence is […]
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