A Sunday School teacher decided to have her 2nd grade class memorize Psalm 23. One little boy was excited, but though he practiced and practiced, he just couldn't remember beyond the first line. The day came for the children to recite Psalm 23. When his turn came, he stepped up to the microphone and proudly said, "The Lord is my Shepherd and that's all I need to know!"
That is a simple recipe for leading a successful life. No argument. My recipe for a successful day would encompass the simple yet profound thoughts of a Stewardship prayer we pray regularly in our parish and archdiocese.
"I offer this day to you dear God. Thank you for the blessings you have given me." On a recent trip to Edmonton I couldn't help noticing the march of thunderstorms we drove through. There were also blue skies and wisps of angel hair that told me the Lord was near, that the veil between heaven and earth is thin at times.
This is Saskatchewan! Breathe deeply the fragrance of the poplar, some alfalfa and clover. Notice the golden wheat and the smell of harvest. There is much to be thankful for. Like the pickle that walked into a bar smiling. Asked why he was so happy, he answered, "Well first I am celebrating the fact that I can walk."
Gratitude is the first duty of the creature to the Creator. "Everyday I will bless you!" Psalm 145:2. The fact that I can see, smell, taste, walk, talk, laughfills me with gratitude. The following story illustrates how we simply miss the vision to make us grateful.
One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"It was great, Dad."
"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.
"Oh yeah," said the son.
"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.
The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."
The boy's father was speechless.
Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."
