Fr. Rene J. Schatteman
1. We all love to receive gifts. In fact, we all love to give gifts because we know that that will make others happy. This exchange of gifts stems from love and leads to gratitude. Even though we receive gifts directly from other people, we know that ultimately all we are and have is from God. Here are some steps we can take to show gratitude to God and others.
2. We should frequently try to take stock of the gifts we have received. Think of all you owe God and tell him: Thank you, Lord God, my Father, for the creation of the world and of all human beings, for the Redemption through the Incarnation and saving death of your Son and for sending the Holy Spirit to be with us. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for coming into our world, for your life and your teachings, for the sacrifice of your life on the Cross, for allowing us to partake in the renewal of your sacrifice in the Mass, and for having given us your Mother to be our Mother. Thank you, God the Holy Spirit, for coming into our souls to teach us truth, for inspiring us to want to follow Christ closely, and for filling us with all your gifts and graces.
3. Think often of the many gifts you have received and say to God: Lord, I thank you for: -the gift of my mind and body; for life itself and the capacity to think and will, to walk and talk, to see and hear, to work and serve. Thank you for my health and my energy. -the gift of supernatural life through Baptism and for the grace to know you and your Church, and to know that you want me to be holy. -the gift of my family: my parents and brothers and sisters and relatives and friends; the gifts of my teachers and my school. -for all the good things I have and enjoy: my home and its furnishings, my books and games, for all the good things you have given me and the world that surrounds me. I thank you for the chance to live close to you and to work for your glory. I thank you for the chance to bring others to know and love you.
4. There are special times for giving thanks to God: -at Mass: the word “eucharist” means thanksgiving. One of the four ends of the Mass, one of the four purposes of prayer is to give thanks to God. At the beginning of the Preface we say: “We do well always and everywhere to give you thanks…” -after receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion we have a time of “thanksgiving”. We always try to spend a few quite minutes with God giving thanks to him for having come to us under the form of bread and wine. -after our meals: “We give thee thanks, almighty God, for these and for all thy benefits which we have received from thy bounty through Christ Our Lord. Amen.” -after a time of meditation: “I thank you, my God, for the good resolutions, affections and inspirations that you have communicated to me in this meditation.” (St. Josemaria Escriva) -at the beginning and at the end of each day because each day is a special gift from God. -when the weather is good and when it rains, when we have what we want or need and when we don’t, -when you have the chance to pitch in and lend a hand to another -when you realize that you have so many other good things from God that you never even think of. -when you do think about all the gifts and graces that God has granted to all men and women of all times and places.
5. Special moments for giving thanks to others: -when they do you a favor, help you with a project, let you into the game -when they complement you, are considerate and lift up your spirits. -when you discover that they have prayed for you and the other members of your family. -when you realize that someone has really gone out of his/her way to the way easier for you.
6. Remember that God wants to be thanked: “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus regarding you all.” (I Thes. 5:18) Make use of the many wonderful expressions of thanksgiving contained in Sacred Scripture e.g. Ps. 102; Daniel 3:90, Romans 1:21, Rev. 7:12 and 11:17. Follow the prayers and expressions of thanksgiving given by the saints and other authors. Make up your own prayer of thanksgiving and recite it daily. Ask yourself: how often today have I thanked God. How often today have I thanked others for who they are (my parents, friends) and for what they mean to me? Thank the Blessed Virgin Mary for being such a good mother.