As part of preparing the kids for various Sacraments , I am also required to attend a number of parent faith sessions. I can understand this, since, having done Sacramental preperation, I am well aware that parents have a tendency to just show up, have that "Church thing" done and disappear until next time. So, the purpose is to try and draw the parents into a more active participation and celebration of the faith the profess (or at least claim to profess).

 Needless to say, I find these sessions overly basic. The first one was on thinking about God - which I do quite a lot of and my ideas are probably not mainstream. The second was on prayer life - which for me is quite active, it has its ups and downs, but it has always been there.

This last session was on giving thanks. Which actually was pretty good. Those who have read my other blog, know I can sometimes get kind of whiny and lament about my life - even though I know my life is very good.

One of the excercises was to write down in a minute 10 things I was thankful for since I woke up that morning (this was done at about 09:45 in the morning). This was my list:

1. My kids.
2. My wife.
3. My life.
4. Taking pictures (it was -29C and I took some shots of ice fishing huts on the river).
5. My car started (again, it was -29C, the engine didn't start the first time I turned the key).
6. The house is warm.
7. I have a home.
8. I have food.
9. I have good health.
10. I have warm water.

I was surprised that the people at my table (5 women and 1 man) had difficulty getting even 5 things to be thankful for that morning. We then listened to a story about thanks and then were asked to repeat the excercise and write 10 new things down. I confess, this was harder and I was stretching a little toward the end:

1. Friends.
2. New nephew (born New Years Eve, 9 weeks premature).
3. Parents.
4. Siblings.
5. A good night's sleep.
6. Warm gloves.
7. Faith.
8. Happiness.
9. Colour.
10. The sun (it may have been -29C, but it was sunny).

I challenge you, in 1 minute, that is 60 seconds, name 10 things you are thankful for since this morning.

"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." - Gilbert K. Chesterton (1874-1936), Author

Comments

kaymc

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great challange

Wednesday 21 January 2009, 21:27

richard

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It is. Makes one focus on the positive and truly rejoice in it.

Thursday 22 January 2009, 18:47

freckled-one

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This is a hard challange since it's been a rough morning for me. But I have to admit by doing it, it makes you appreciate the positive and helps to get rid of what made the morning sucky to begin with.

Saturday 24 January 2009, 16:20

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