A Family of Gratitude

“We thank you God for the goodness of the people of our country, our city—and for the spirit of hope and change we experience—even amidst the challenges our world faces today.”

The memories of our recent Thanksgiving weekend are still with me. At the Soup Kitchen we had our annual Thanksgiving Family Prayer service. It was so moving to hear our moms, our dads and our youth sharing their gratitude for family, for shoes on their feet, for a roof over their head—and so much more. Many families in our family program at the Soup Kitchen are barely making it financially. I marvel at their sense of gratitude.

With my own family, it was equally inspiring.  As 18 of us gathered around the table, we have a yearly custom of each family member expressing thanks for something in their life.  I was touched by the many prayerful expressions—even among college and high school age nieces and nephews.  It is good to belong to a family of gratitude.

Author: Sister Nancyann Turner
Capuchin Soup Kitchen Rosa Parks Children Program Manager