“IF THE ONLY PRAYER YOU EVER SAY IN YOUR ENTIRE LIFE IS THANK YOU, IT WILL BE ENOUGH.”

– MEISTER ECKHART

What does offering thanks really mean? Saying “thank you” can become a catch-all phrase, extended as an automatic response to a multitude of situations.

As Vincentians, we may be on the receiving end of multiple expressions of gratitude from people in need and those who receive assistance. There may also be an absence of appreciation from time to time. We are reminded that acts of service go beyond the material and economic goods that have been provided. As the Rule highlights, encounters between Vincentians and Companions involved the mutual exchange of blessings, “Vincentians never forget the many blessings they receive from those they visit. They recognise that the fruit of their labours springs, not from themselves, but especially from God and from the poor they serve.” Responding to requests for material assistance leads to deeper engagements. We met each other with respect and dignity.

St Louise de Marillac was a woman who worked daily for those who needed assistance in her community. She recognised that one’s attitude greatly influences the experiences of serving others, “I hope that your gratitude will place you in the disposition necessary to receive the graces you need to serve your sick poor in a spirit of gentleness and great compassion.”

It is said that anxiety and gratitude cannot exist in the same space. There is wisdom in this observation. Often, anxious thoughts are focussed on the negativity of past or future events. The spiralling examination of an embarrassing event, a misspoken word, or a regrettable action. When thinking about the future, generating a multitude of “what if” possibilities can cause stress, rather than comfort or relief. Gratitude provides a counter- movement to these emotions. When reflecting on past events, being in a space of thanks can take you to see additional perspectives or new insights. It can ground you in the present. It can bring a smile to your face.

A daily reflection on gratitude can be one way to ground oneself in the present. Here are some promptings that can be used to enter more fully into the graces of thankfulness that surround us each day.

What is one action or thing that you are grateful for today?

What relationships are you grateful for?

Where have you received gratitude from others today?

Thank you for taking the time to pause and enter sacred space. Thank you also for all your service to others as part of the St Vincent de Paul Society.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• What blessings have you received from your encounters with companions and the people we serve?
• How do you stop and reflect with gratitude for the events, people and things that have happened over a day?

From: Firewood for the soul, vol. 2, A Reflexion Book for the Whole Vincentian Family
St. Vincent de Paul Society, Queensland, Australia.
Text by: Samantha Hill and James Hodge.