Last week the weather was beautiful, wasn’t it?

I took advantage of the warm temperatures last weekend to install the outside Christmas lights on our home. I usually do this chore after Thanksgiving when it is very cold outside, always wishing I had done it sooner. I had never done this in October before, but was grateful to be doing it without having to wear gloves and a winter coat. Not withstanding this fact, please know we do not turn the lights on until after Thanksgiving.

As I did this, I also thought that this is an excellent time of the year to take advantage of going to Confession before the holidays. Confession is more than an item on the Christmas Holiday to-do list that we rush to complete. Doing it now can be a special Thanksgiving gesture to our loving God showing we want to begin to be prepared for the upcoming holidays spiritually.

I invite you to consider going to confession sooner rather than later. The special graces that we receive in this Sacrament will invigorate and strengthen us for the journey ahead. It also shows God that doing so is not a Christmas “duty” and reflects the fact that we give this special sacrament the special time it deserves.

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

-By Deacon Tom Gryzbek