Praise be Jesus Christ! Praise be His holy name. Praise be God, who is, who was, and who always will be! Praise be God, who suffered, died, was buried, and rose from the dead.
Thank You Lord for all Your benefits. Thank You Lord for every joy, every suffering, every high, and every low. Thank You God for all forms of employment that remind us of the value of work, for the financial struggles that remind us that it is You in whom we should place our trust. Thank You for the appliances that work, for the water that flows when I turn the faucet, for the clothes on our backs, and the food on our plates.
Forgive me Lord for when I forget all that You have provided and the miracles You have performed. Forgive me Lord for my short-sightedness, self-centeredness, and pride. Forgive me Lord for not praising and thanking You in ALL circumstances as they happen. Forgive me Lord for anytime I have ignored a nudge from You to speak Your truth at Your time in Your way. Forgive me Lord for anytime I have placed my will before Yours.
This past year, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, I was able to sit and enjoy a family dinner with all my children plus a daughter-in-love and the fiance’ of my oldest daughter. It was one of those moments that a momma treasures. It was one of those moments where it was easy to feel instant gratitude. It was witnessing the fruit of the sacrifices of our time invested in teaching and training about the importance of family and sibling relationships. Thank You Lord for the blessing of witnessing and appreciating the moment. Thank You Lord for the miracle of me sitting and enjoying the moment instead of giving into the temptation to clear the dishes or clean up as I would have in years past. Thank You Lord for giving me the graces and discipline over the years to have this moment! I do not deserve the many blessings, but I am so appreciative! Thank You God.
As I ponder and wonder what a gift I was given, I am sure Momma Mary interceded for me and has helped me mature as a woman of God over the years so that I could appreciate such a gift. I have taken her as my Mother, my Mentor, and my Queen. It always amazes me that on her feast days, when we celebrate her, she is busy spoiling us. I know that shouldn’t surprise me, since she is our mom, and that’s such a mom move!
What unexpected joys or moments of wonderful blessing have you experienced lately? Have you noticed them? Have you pointed them out to friends and family? By God’s grace, have you had any moments recently that made you realize just how much you have grown?
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
