Good and Loving God...
A gift is neither earned nor guaranteed;
help me embrace each day as your gift to me.
"All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights" (Jas 1:17);
prompt me to pause and offer a Pater noster at the first signs of light.
Your grace and blessings come in disguise throughout my daily life;
surprise me with your presence where I would least expect it.
Asking for eyes to see and ears to hear gives me a heart to love;
ensure that my love never looks, sounds or feels ungrateful.
Ingratitude is the aboriginal temptation from the ultimate Ingrate;
may the Queen whose soul "proclaims the greatness of the Lord"
crush its callous head.
Heavenly gifts to which I cling soon shrivel up
like yesterday's manna in the desert;
empower me to cheerfully give away all I've received.
Giving thanks conduces to thanksgiving;
remind me that the perfect act of thanksgiving
is one offered with and through Jesus in the Eucharist.
