When our children are young, we school them in saying "thank you" for any courtesy, gift or praise given them. What we're really teaching them is awareness, the ability to recognize and name what they've received as grace. And so it goes for us for the rest of our lives. Before we can say thank you, we have to live in awareness of what comes to us as gifts large and small: the start of a new day, a brilliant sunset, a word of affirmation, a job offer, the successful end of a course of treatment, a hug from a child, a relationship on the mend.
Every one of the ten lepers had been healed, but only one recognized and named God's healing presence in his life. Only one realized, returned and gave thanks.
Loving God, lead me into awareness of your gracious gifts to me today.
Sr. Chris Koelhoffer, I.H.M.
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