giving thanks

After Mass this morning, amid the joyful greetings of faith family members, one in particular stood out. A woman I've seen, whom I recognize but had never matched a name to, approached and hugged me. She wished me a happy Thanksgiving, then said, "I've been praying for you." When I thanked her, lowering my eyes, she continued: "I realize we've never actually met, but I really wanted to pray for you both." She was referring to a drive I took halfway across the country with a friend about a month ago. "I'm glad you had a safe trip," she concluded, and moved on.

There is so much about the exchange that stirs my heart. There is simple gratitude for the prayers, and the very true acknowledgement that I felt them, even without knowing where or who was offering them. Beyond that is the greater wonder of what made the exchange possible in the first place; the journey that continues to teach me so much about gratitude.
I've gone to church just about all my life. A majority of that time, I went out of simple obligation - to my parents, to my husband, to my kids, to my designation as Catholic - rather than any appreciation for my faith, or gratitude for what faith means. There was a time when I would willingly say that I went despite the lack of meaning to me personally. In a nutshell, I went so I could say that I did.

So much has changed for me in recent years. God's mercy is such that I am still welcome in this place that I used so casually, so carelessly. Welcomed by near strangers as easily as by thise who have become dear friends - family, even. Welcomed by Him at any time, day or night, even though I am still sometimes wracked with guilt for how cavalier I've sometimes been. My home, my true home, is with God, and every single time I walk into His house (wherever that roof happens to be) I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity. In His mercy, I am renewed, refreshed.

For what am I most thankful today? That's the question that came to mind when I first woke this morning. The answer has been floating through my mind and heart all morning. Clearly there are the most obvious: home, family, friends, jobs. But lately the word in my prayer has been 'more.' I've wondered what that could mean - more for, more from, more to? For today, more means all that I have and all that's coming. I already have more than I could ever have imagined, and yet someone I really didn't know offered me more this morning. There is no way to measure the love and mercy of God.

For that, I am most thankful today.