A Time For Gratitude

Thanksgiving falls in this final week of the Liturgical Year when we are looking at "the last things" and  ahead to the return of Christ in glory to claim the kingdom of God, which we helped build, and return it to the Father.  Can we mix gratitude with the sure finality which one day will come?  I think so.  Gratitude makes us aware of the generosity of the Giver, and our humble place as receiver.  We have done nothing to "merit" the gifts lavished by the Giver, but we can say thanks for the totally
FREE gifts we have received.  How happy we are when someone surprises us "out of the blue" with coffee and donuts, or takes us out to lunch unexpectedly.  It adds a brightness to our day that was not there before.  We are looking back at the Gifts God has given us in Christ, and the Gift of eternal life which is yet to come.  What better way to respond to this than by a deep, heartfelt THANK YOU to our God, whose love and kindness is so great that we in no way can match it.  We don't have to.  Thank you is enough.
Bro. Rene