“Aaron was a fisherman who lived on the banks of a river. Walking home with his eyes half closed one evening after a hard day’s toil, he was dreaming of what he would do when he became rich. Suddenly his foot struck against a leather pouch filled with what appeared to be small stones. Absentmindedly, he picked up the pouch and began throwing the pebbles into the water. ‘When I am rich, I will have a large house.” And he threw a stone. Then he threw another stone, thinking ‘When I am rich, I will have servants and rich food.’ This went on until only one stone was left. As Aaron held it in his hand, a ray of light caught it and made it sparkle. He realized then that it was a valuable gem and that he had been throwing away the real riches in his hand while he dreamed idly of unreal riches in the future.”
When do we walk with our eyes half-closed? Do we spend our waking moments wanting what we don’t have instead of appreciating the many gifts we do have? As the days of Lent slip by, we still have time to go deep into our hearts and souls to unearth the gratitude we may have lost sight of. We have time to remember those special people in our lives, people who have touched us by their kindness, who have challenged us to be the best we can be, who have loved us enough to forgive us and help us to grow. Let’s spend some time this week singing our gratitude songs! Perhaps if you have a sacred space, you can place the names of those for whom you are grateful in that space….or you might write down your “riches” and place your list in a prominent place (on your refrigerator?).
In these continuing days of Lent, let us renew ourselves in our determination to grow in our relationship with our God who “so loved the world that he gave his only Son.”
Written by: Sr. Marie Paul Grech S.N.D.
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