This Thanksgiving I am thankful for being alive. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life!

Thank You for creating me in your image and likeness, Lord.

Thank You for my body, which is stricken with cancer and needs a hip replacement.

Despite these ailments, I am still able to serve you through my sufferings.

I offer up my pain daily for the purification of the Church, the salvation of souls and the salvation of my own soul.

Thank You for the opportunity to rest, to heal, and to trust in Your Word, standing on Your Promises.

I am thankful for my mind, which despite my age (ha!), remains active and interested in many things.

I am thankful that I am able to focus, to reason, to retain information, and am still learning new things every day.

Thank You, Lord, that I know who You are and that each new day provides an opportunity for knowing You better.

Thank You for the gift of my soul, which enables me to draw closer to you.

Thank You, Lord, for awakening the deep desires of my soul to know and understand myself as a spiritual being.

Thank You for the gift of prayer and the opportunity to converse with You daily.

Thank You for speaking to me daily.

Thank You for the gift of free will and for enlightening me to do Your holy will.

Thank You for igniting the fire of your love within me that enables me to express myself through the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, Lord, for the insatiable desire that you have given me to grow in my love for You.

Thank You for my heart, my emotions, and the gift to express myself as a human being.

I am grateful, Lord, that You created me to be a woman and that I have no desire to be anything or anyone else.

Thank You for blessing me with the gifts of empathy and compassion.

Thank You for helping me to be tender and kind and to nurture others both spiritually and physically.

Thank You, Lord, for my beautiful Catholic faith.

Thank you for the Scriptures, Church traditions, the Magisterium of the Church, the sacraments, the Communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, your death on the cross and your resurrection.

Thank You for the gift of life everlasting.

Thank You for the gift of Mother Mary, who is both Your Mother and mine, Queen of heaven and earth, Queen of angels and saints.

Thank You for my friendship with Your foster-father, St. Joseph.

Thank You for the angels, and especially for my guardian angel.

Thank You for the saints, who are wonderful models of holiness and intercede for us in special ways. Thank you for blessing me with these special friends.

Thank You especially for my patron saints.

Thank You, Lord, for our bishop, Bishop Kemme, and his spirit-filled leadership.

Thank You for our pastor, Fr. Jarrod, who brings his strong enthusiasm for the faith, amazing teaching and preaching skills, and inspiring homilies to our parish.

Thank You for our assistant pastors, Fr. LaBenz and Fr. Issac, who are both gifted in their unique ways.

Thank You for my parish family, who support me through prayer and many other ways.

Thank You for those who are fans and friends, some of whom have been following me for almost 15 years now on Catholic Fire.

Thank You for my dear husband, Bill, who helps me draw nearer to You daily, Lord.

Thank You for all my loved ones — family and friends — both near and far. They are all precious to me.

Happy Thanksgiving, Lord!

~ copyright Jean M. Heimann, November 2018

This is my litany. What is yours?

The post My Litany of Thanksgiving for Thanksgiving Day 2018 appeared first on Jean M. Heimann.