When I was growing up my parents created a rule that we could not use a gift we had received until the thank you note was written. When I would feel overwhelmed with writers block my mother was willing to offer helpful support. She would ask me to imagine what I might say if I were on the phone with the gift giver. She suggested I think about what they would be interested in hearing about my reaction to the gift. Her guidance helped me craft many meaningful thank you notes and helped me develop the gift of gratitude.
Those feelings of thank you note writers block from my childhood are very familiar in these days. My sense of time is undefined and I have no vision of what the future might bring. While I expected spending time at home would offer more time for prayer, I encounter times when my prayer life feels a bit desolate.
That was just the space I was in when I looked to today’s readings for inspiration. Happily when I discovered the readings for the Memorial for St. Philip Neri I felt a lightness in my spirit. The first reading from Paul to the Philippians offers a prayer that is perfect for these unsettling times:
Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
If St Paul while imprisoned could extend this joyous invitation, I can tap into gratitude for the many gifts in my life. My prayer life reignites as I use the lessons my mother taught me to express gratitude. I imagine I am talking to God and I trust God is interested in hearing how grateful I am to feel the peace of God. I feel called to share words of gratitude and encouragement with others near and far. I pray we all remember to experience and express gratitude in these challenging times.
Mary Lee Brock
Here at Creighton University, I serve as the Director of the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution (NCR) program and as an Assistant Professor in the Heider College of Business. The mission of the NCR program is to prepare agents of social change to engage and resolve conflict effectively, efficiently and humanely. As a conflict engagement educator, facilitator and conflict coach, I encourage individuals and groups to develop conflict competency essential to personal, professional and community growth.
Being in community with others is where my faith grows and where I am encouraged to love and serve others. My life is blessed with a loving family, loyal friends and the occasional rough patch to keep it real. The online ministry community is rich, far flung faith sharing community of which I am honored to be a member.
