Well, this week’s Gospel passage is hard. I don’t envy any priests or deacons who have to preach this weekend. I’ll be honest, I think most of my ideas, feeble as they were, are in the YouTube video for the week. As I sit writing this, I’m only feeling one pressing thing to share here that perhaps was understated in the video.

It’s in invitation to create a gratitude list. Perhaps, more than likely, you’ve heard of this before. Maybe you’ve even made one or two. One of the unplanned, Holy Spirit inspired things I say in the video about the persistent woman is:

It wasn’t about who she was, it was about who He was and what He was giving.

This is sticking with me and I was a bit surprised to hear myself say it while editing. My life isn’t about me, it’s about God. And if it’s about God and what He gives, gosh do I have a lot to be thankful for. I didn’t earn this life, I didn’t earn the things that make me happy. I didn’t earn these talents or get to select my natural inclinations.

In God’s immense generosity, not only has He given me these things, but He’s also given me the freedom to choose how to cultivate and grow them.

Below is the start of my gratitude list as it is inspired by this persistent, humble woman. I hope you take some time, dear reader, to write one of your own.

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For the gift of life, thank you

For the gift of salvation, thank you

For saving the whole world, no matter who or when or where or how far, thank you

For choosing me, thank you

For your love in my family, thank you

For our home, thank you

For our health, thank you

For airlines and air miles and pilots and cargo loaders and everyone in between that has enabled our parents to be active in our children’s lives, even though we have moved so often, thank you

For Ben’s steady work so I can stay home with our kids, thank you

For the homeschooling moms who so generously shared their wisdom so I could have the confidence to start and continue homeschooling, thank you

For all the wonderful YouTube hosts who have taught me so much about knitting, weaving, spinning, and much more, thank you

Thank you