THANKS FOR THE ORDINARY

The following is a meditation of thankfulness by Michel Quoist; thankfulness for the simple, ordinary things in life, which we so often take for granted or ignore.

Thank you Lord, thank you.

Thank you for all the gifts that you have given me today, Thank you for all I have seen, heard, received.

Thank you for the water that woke me up, the soap that smells good,

the toothpaste that refreshes.

Thank you for the clothes that protect me, for their colour and their cut. Thank you for my newspaper, for news good and not-so-good,

for the report of useful meetings,

for justice done

and for big games won.

Thank you for the refuse-collectors, for their morning shouts

and all the early noises. Thank you for my work, my efforts. Thank you for the welcoming street that led me there,

for the shop windows, for cars that passed me safely

and for passers-by,

for all the life that flowed swiftly

between the windowed walls of the houses.

Thank you for the food that sustained me,

for the drink that refreshed me.

Thank you for the car that meekly took me where I wanted to be,

for the petrol that made it go,

for the wind that caressed my face

and for the trees that nodded to me on the way.

Thank you for the child I watched playing on the sidewalk opposite. Thank you for his roller-skates and for his comical face when he fell. Thank you for the morning greetings I received, and for all the smiles.

Thank you for the roof that shelters me,

for the electricity that powers my home,

for the news, for music and singing. Thank you for the tranquil night. Thank you for the stars. Thank you for the silence.

Thank you for the time you have given me. Thank you for life. Thank you for grace.

Thank you for being there, Lord. Thank you for listening to me,

for taking me seriously,

for gathering my gifts in your hands to offer them to your Father. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.

-Michel Quoist, from Prayers

Up until last week we were showing our appreciation for the NHS and Keyworkers crucial to our dealing with the present pandemic. I was able to say "thank you" to our refuse collectors for their part "on the front line" I don't say thank you enough to people who do ordinary kindnesses without expecting gratitude.

I am going to make special effort, as we enter the Feast of Corpus Christi, to ensure I show gratitude for any kindness shown me. After all, this is the feast of the Eucharist,

the feast of thanks.