Patricia's Principles for Living

We sit laughingly around the huge mound of presents under the tree in the big living at my parent’s home on High Street in Philadelphia. The doorbell rings. In bounds the ones for whom we’re waiting, my sister and her husband and children from Virginia. . Here we all are, all of us together. My own husband, sons and I have flown in from the West Coast to spend the holidays on the East Coast. Tons of presents together with squiggly grandchildren and aunts, uncles and grandparents make for a memorable scene. For me it’s a golden moment in time. All is right in the world. Christmas tree lights twinkle. Someone takes up the task to start calling names. Will we ever get through all of these presents? As the presents are picked up for distribution they seem to uncover another dozen hiding underneath. Well, there are eight brothers and sisters who have produced 12 grandchildren at this point. Such delight from squealing boys and girls and agreeing oohs and aahs from parents aunts and uncles...

During the “terrible twos” phase, my little boy resolutely refused to say thank you for a small cookie. “Say thank you, “I said over and over again. He clenched his jaws even tighter. The obdurate nature of this tiny tyke amazed me. For a full twenty minutes he tenaciously stood his ground. However I’d decided to deny him the victory of his little rebellion. Finally a cascade of thank yous poured from his quivering lips. As I began this Thanksgiving Holiday I asked myself,"Have I been just as willful in my actions towards God as my little two years old child.” God told us to enter His gates with thanksgiving. How many times have I entered with complaint after complaint? God told us to sing praise in our hearts. How many times has my heart been a place of muttering? This Thanksgiving I am renouncing my stubborn will of not saying thanks. I want my lips to voluntarily and joyfully say thank you for all of God's many blessings given to me.