There is a man in our congregation who, when asked “How are you?” always replies, “Grateful”. The first few time I heard him say that I was a bit taken aback. Now, I look forward to his response. “I am grateful.”
This morning, as I arrived at work, the woman who runs the children’s program downstairs said, “How are you?” and I said, “On a day like this? I am grateful – how could I not be?” I am grateful – grateful to be alive, grateful to be on my feet, grateful to see this August day, grateful to hear the voice of a loved one, grateful to hold the hand of a child, grateful to read a good book, grateful to spend an evening watching a ball game, grateful to sip ice water, grateful to watch sunlight on water, grateful to hear birds sing and teenagers laugh, grateful to sit at a desk and read an email, grateful to anticipate a visit from family, grateful to remember a time with friends, grateful to by busy, grateful to be bored, grateful to live where I live, grateful for times of peace, grateful for a delicious meal, grateful to have something to believe in, grateful to be able to say, “I don’t know”, grateful for a good night’s sleep, grateful to wake up to sunshine, grateful to sit and talk, grateful to sit and say nothing, grateful for a very interesting world, grateful for efforts for peace, grateful for small miracles, grateful for big miracles.
How am I today? I am grateful! How are you? What are you grateful for?
Perhaps my late father’s most used sermon was titled ‘the privilege of living’. We heard it in many summer services around the country any time he spoke before a new listening congregation. Anniversaries, Christian Ashrams, Faith at Work conferences, or summer community churches all heard it once. As kids we could practically recite it. “Life is never a burden so long as one is heartily aware of the privilege of living”.