Giving Thanks Realigns Us

Thanksgiving pie cookies - image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Every so often, the tires on our cars need realignment, or an adjusting of the angles of the tires, which affects how they make contact with the road. Without such realignment, we run the risk of experiencing uneven tread wear, the vehicle pulling to the left or right, the steering wheel being off-center when driving straight, or steering wheel vibration. In other words, the car does not operate properly.

Giving thanks is a form of realignment for our very being. When we give thanks, we acknowledge a Giver beyond ourselves upon whom we depend. To be grateful is to dispel any notion of being self-sustaining. When we operate as though we are self-sufficient, we run the risk of veering off-course. Remember, self-sufficiency was the sin that Adam and Eve fell prey to; it’s our original sin. When we give thanks, we reorient ourselves in orbit around God, who is the true center of our lives.

So, let’s use this Thanksgiving as an opportunity to get realigned! Let’s be grateful for all of the people in our lives upon whom we depend and who are so generous to us. And, most of all, let’s be grateful to our good and gracious God, who sustains us at every moment of our lives.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful to all of you who participate in the catechetical ministry and who share your gifts so generously with others so that those you teach may know the abundant goodness of our God!

May you be filled with abundant blessings this Thanksgiving!

Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay.

About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

2 Comments

  1. Happy Thanksgiving to you family and staff.
    I am gratful for all you do to assist us in our journeys as a teacher. Again Thanks.
    Peace and Belssing

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