Being grateful is a wonderful emotion because it allows us to show appreciation and is usually related to something positive. Our personal journey presents us with so many opportunities to be grateful, for instance, a new job, a new relationship or just appreciating a lifelong relationship. Every day should begin with being grateful for the day God has made. This new day affords us the opportunity to make a difference, repair that which is broken, exercise forgiveness or simply thank God for all He has done.   

Years ago, I attended the funeral of the archivist for the Diocese, and I remember that during the homily, I smiled because I knew her. She had a unique personality, and her knowledge of the history of the Catholic church in Cleveland was amazing. When I would walk upstairs in the old chancery building to drop off some documents, I would always make my way to her office and spend some time just learning stuff. She really was an amazing person and incredibly knowledgeable. So, when I smiled at her funeral, it was because I was grateful to have had the opportunity to know her.

When we consider the things for which we are grateful, the life and death of Jesus should be at the top of our list. God sent His only Son to live as we do, to feel the things we do in our daily lives. Jesus’ is connected to each of us, and He is alive today in the Eucharist. I am grateful for His sacrifice and for the freedom from death that he gave to each of us.  

When a loved one dies, it is important that as we mourn because they are physically no longer present and we miss them, but we must also smile and be grateful for the time we had with them, even if it was for just a few moments. We know that death arrives as the thief in the night, but if we spent our time knowing each other, and being grateful for the time we had, the thief only steals a short amount of time until that moment we are reunited in paradise.

God Bless you during this month of the Holy Family.  

Andrej N. Lah