It's never too late for gratitude
Last night I was watching a movie about a man trying to make his way
back home at the end of the Civil War. What struck me was that even
in the midst of horrible things and people hurting people, there were
still many people who helped him get home.
There was one old lady who took care of him and sacrificed one of her
precious goats to feed him and send food along with him. As he was
leaving her, I wondered if he would ever have a chance to thank
her.
He dies at the end of the movie, so my question was answered. But it
brought back again a question I have asked again and again throughout
my life about thanking the people who have helped me along the way.
When I was ordained (at 45) I sat down and wrote to everyone who
helped to get me to that point. I am sure that I didn't remember
everyone. I didn't think that I should move forward without looking
back to what and who got me there. Perhaps it is time again to sit
down and thank those who have helped me.
You should try it. Sometimes there are wonderful results. I wrote to
the pastor who confirmed me. He is not even a pastor anymore. He had
a struggle with the difficulty of living as he thought Christ wanted
him to and getting too far ahead of his congregation. Looking back it
was clear to me. But he had really helped me to see what it means to
live a Christian life. So I wrote and told him that. He drove 800
miles to my ordination and gave me his pectoral cross.
There are some people that I could never thank enough, like my
mother-in-law. I know I thanked her many ties before she died and I
hope she knows how much she did for me.
Sometimes there are people whom you will never get to thank. People
who merely were kind in passing when you were having a rough day. Who
makes your life a little more pleasant.
Lord,
We give thanks to you for all the people who help us along the way of
our lives on our journey to come closer to you. May we also be a
blessing to others on their way.
Amen
Copyright (c)
2005, The Rev. Dana Reardon. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Email her at
mspastor@aol.com.
The Rev. Dana Reardon is pastor at St.
Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Warwick, RI. A lifelong Lutheran, she
came to ordained ministry after 21 years in nursing, mostly in pediatric
intensive care. She graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary at
Philadelphia in 1998 and served 4 ½ years in Upstate New York before
becoming a New Englander. She is still trying to understand the
accent. While in the Upstate New York Synod she chaired the Stewardship
Team. That began her fascination with what makes stewards -- and more,
what makes for generosity.
She
has three amazing daughters: Pastor Reardon says much of what she knows of
life she learned from them.
