The noun, rumination, means a deep considered thought about something.

Last Monday, my wife and I attended the wake of a friend of ours who died. It was the sixth wake we attended together in the last two weeks.

So much sadness yet so much gratefulness about how each deceased person had touched the lives of those privileged to know her or him.

I was touched at the generosity of spirit showed at those wakes. Though the family members and friends of those that had died were sad and grieving, at several wakes, a family member or friend would reach out and ask how we are doing and, in many cases, state if there was ever something that the grieving person could do for us, not to hesitate to ask.

We were there to provide comfort yet were being asked if there was some way, we could be given assistance. Pretty humbling.

It reminded me of the term, “generosity of spirit.” I looked up that term on the internet and found it is a spiritual concept that speaks of the type of relationship between a giver and a receiver. One author stated, “It is the embodiment of who we are, and it synthesizes the “fruit of the spirit” listed by Paul for the Galatians – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Generosity of spirit allows space for differences to exist, and empathy to arise. It works to find the commonalities that bind us, despite the differences that separate us.” 

May God give each of us the grace to show generosity of spirit. Imagine what a better world we would have if everyone did that.

By Deacon Tom Gryzbek