As Father Ted expressed so well on Easter, we have a lot to be thankful for with all of the work that went into preparing for the Holy Week and Easter Liturgies. Like you, I am deeply appreciative of the quality of services in which we had the privilege to attend and participate.

What we did not have the opportunity to do was to also thank Father for his tireless efforts in coordinating and leading these liturgies. We are lucky to have such a sincere and dedicated Pastor who cares so much for us. Thank you, Father, for your excellent work and for being our Pastor. Your many efforts do not go unnoticed and are deeply appreciated.

As I thought about thanking Father and all those that helped, I thought about these words we use: “thank you.”

My mom and dad taught me in early childhood the need to use these words frequently in life. By not saying thank you, we fail in acknowledging the goodness of the other person in a willing interaction. We may be unintentionally taking that person for granted. We may lose an opportunity that may not present itself again to show our affection for the person who receives this greeting. Some such opportunities can be lost forever.

If we say thank you in our human interactions, how much more should we be doing it with our interactions with God? Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for creating us and loving us. Thank you, dear Jesus, for dying on the Cross to save us out of that same love for us. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for guiding us in our lives and helping us to grow closer to God. Thank you, Blessed Mother, for all you do to help us and bring us closer to you, your Son, our heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit.

Let’s thank God each and every day for His love for us and for all that he does to help us.

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

-By Deacon Tom Gryzbek