My youngest granddaughter is 3 years old.

My son sent my wife and me a picture of her Saturday graduating from a local swim class. She is seen smiling ear to ear over this recognition and being so honored. Her smile is so large and genuine that you cannot help but smile back when looking at it.

Simple joys.

They are all around us in life and on a spiritual journey. They are gifts from God that need to be embraced when realizing how much God loves us to give us these moments despite what we may be facing or having to endure.

A good friend of my wife and mine is dying of cancer. As I took Holy Communion to him last Monday and was about to pray with him, he asked if he could share something with me. Of course, I answered, “sure”. He then started laughing almost uncontrollably telling me how much he enjoyed my pathetic attempts to play horse with a friend on his basketball court in front of his house last Saturday. Often missing the basket. It delighted his funny bone to recall my many awkward attempts to look like I could still play basketball at the age of 71.

My friend has a few weeks to live (at most a couple of months). Yet he embraced joy despite what he was suffering and the fact that he has a short time to live.

He also later embraced receiving our Lord in sacrament of the Eucharist. 
All gifts from God remind us of His love for us.

Do we embrace these small gifts when we receive them?

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

-By Deacon Tom Gryzbek