10/9/22

NIGHT PRAYER: Sunday 10/9


On Sundays, Night Prayer will focus on an element from the day's celebration of Mass. Tonight our prayer begins with the gratitude of the one leper who returned to Jesus after being healed...

Me, Lord?
Forget all your gifts to me?
Or fail to give you proper thanks? 

Well...  if I'm honest...
There have been times...

Sometimes I do forget,
I loose track of, I get lost in
 - all you've given me...

I take your generosity for granted
or worse - convince myself
that somehow I'm entitlted
to what I clearly don't deserve... 
 
And at other times I often focus only on 
what I need from you now,
what I want from you now,
forgetting what you've done
in the far and recent past,
what you gave me last month,
how you blessed me last year
and all the gifts I've carried for decades:
    all this so easily eclipsed, forgotten
    by what I want from you today... 

I don't mean to be ungrateful
but that's often where I land,
forgetful of your love,
your enduring, patient mercy,
your presence at my side
and your gifts, large and small:
hand delivered to my heart:
    some gifts opened and enjoyed,
    others wasted and abused,
    some left wrapped up and unopened...
 
Once more then, Lord,
I ask for your forgiveness
for the times I've been ungrateful
for the gifts on my heart's doorstep:
    may I open them with joy,
    find your peace within them
    and give thanks and praise... 
 
Give me the gift of a grateful heart
an attitude of gratitude;
open the eyes of my heart and soul,
to find and use your many gifts
and to be grateful in return...
 
Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake
and watch over me while I sleep
that awake, I might keep watch with you
and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen. 
 
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I Am Grateful for the Little Things by Teresa Jennings


 
I am grateful for the little things 
   like seashells and puppies and snow.
I am grateful for the little things like taking a walk,
   for sounds that a baby makes when learning how to talk.
I am grateful for the little things 
   like running and laughing and fun!
It's the little things that matter most, 
   they're really not that small.
In fact  --  they're the biggest of all!

For stars at night, for birds in flight, 
   for memories of days gone by,
for Saturdays and camp fires, 
   for songs that make me cry,
   for my family, for my country, for the Fourth of July,
I am grateful!

I am grateful for the little things 
   like flowers and rainbows and hugs.
I am grateful for the little things 
   like breathing a sigh, for kittens and holidays, 
   and eating pumpkin pie. 
I am grateful for the little things 
   like smiling and dancing and joy!  
It's the little things that matter most, 
   they're really not that small.
In fact  --  they're the biggest of all!

It's the little things that matter most, 
   they're really not that small.
In fact  --  they're the biggest of all!
I'm grateful!

  

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