Thanksgiving Day is almost here and there is much to be thankful for. Health and shelter, material goods and freedom, friends and family, I have an abundance of these. All were created by and given to me by a loving God. All are good; none are to be rejected. I thank God daily for everything good in my life and for those who bless me by their very being.

But what of those things that I am not particularly pleased about? What about the trials and troubles that exist in my personal life, in my Church and in my world?

We know that evil is not part of God’s plan. God doesn’t make people suffer. We do that. People are the cause of poverty, injustice, abuse. Our political and social structures seem to be the root of most of what we cry out to God to change. Perhaps God will hear us and do what we ask. But I wonder if God’s message to me is, “Get out there and do something about these social ills! Act with others of good will and give support to those who need it!”

St. Vincent de Paul’s words, “Let us love God by the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brows” tell me that it won’t be accomplished easily. I will need to work hard and with others to try to correct the wrongs that I see. My Vincentian sisters and brothers are invaluable in this task. There are others, too, who will work to create a better world if I am willing to join with them, if I have courage.

Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Courage is the ability to go from failure to failure with enthusiasm.”
But to do that we must have hope that eventually all will be well. St. Paul’s letter to the Roman’s expresses this, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of others we might have hope.” Serviens in spe – We serve in hope.

I know that I am blessed. I thank God for everything and for everyone who blesses me because all good things come from God. I promise to work to correct those things that cause injury and injustice, knowing that God’s love and the love of my sisters and brothers will sustain me.

May God continue to bless all of us and those we serve.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Denise