Jesus is Risen, Now What?
We are So Blessed
Photo by Muhammad Muzamil on Unsplash
I don’t need Thanksgiving to be thankful. I need the poor in my life on an ongoing basis, and so do you.
My husband and I do home visits for St. Vincent de Paul, about one or two a month. Every time we go to the poorer areas of our community and step inside one of the apartments or homes, not only are we humbled by seeing how others live and scrape by on minimal resources, but we take back a certain thankfulness for our own blessings… our home, our jobs, our opportunities, and the families we entered into the world from. Inevitably, we walk away saying: We are so blessed.
The truth is my daily life (and probably yours too) in suburbia is too comfortable, blessed, and almost perfect. I have nearly everything I’ve ever wanted. I can pay my bills every month. I don’t have to worry about housing insecurity or paying for groceries. Yes, I have my sufferings, but they are different and my blessings often make them more bearable. The poor in my life continually prompt me to be grateful and thanksgiving for what I do have, and then generosity in response.
Maybe this Thanksgiving, think about how God might me calling you to make the poor a part of your life, so that Thanksgiving isn’t just a one day event of gratefulness this year, but an ongoing attitude throughout the year.
About the Author
Katie Zalany lives in Cleveland Ohio. She is a Third Order Secular Franciscan (OFS), spiritual director, benefits/wellness leader, and certified health and life coach. She volunteers with St. Vincent de Paul Society serving the poor, is an active mentor to many individuals, and a prolific writer. Her writing interests and focus areas include spiritual development, reflections on the Gospel life, Franciscian spirituality, prayer, and integration of faith and work/daily living. She is the published author of Called to Corporate: Lessons of Growing in Faith and Holiness from the Corporate Cubicle.
