Today’s Reflection
If gratitude ushers in healing, how do we come by it? The gift of gratitude, while wonderful, is exactly that — a gift. None of us can will it into being or perform exercises to make it happen. It is a gift of God, pure grace. I do believe, however, that we will finally receive it if we look around, hold ourselves open to it, watch for it without cynicism or bullying of the universe, and long for it as best we can from the place of grief where we find ourselves.
—Roberta C. Bondi, Wild Things: Poems of Grief and Love, Loss and Gratitude (Upper Room Books, 2014)
Today’s Question
How can you become more open to receiving God’s gifts? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
—Ephesians 2:8 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
Creator God, as you draw us closer to you, draw us closer to each other. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Advent is just around the corner. In Season’s Greetings, twelve vividly imagined letters from long-ago Bible characters who were there for the birth of Jesus speak to the many meanings of Christmas.
Learn more here.
Lectionary Readings
- Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17
- Psalm 127
- Hebrews 9:24-28
- Mark 12:38-44
Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
2 Comments
How can you become more open to receiving God’s gifts? This question is beyond my ability to answer. I am very grateful for the blessings of the day, the gifts of love, hope, mercy, faith, and forgiveness. God’s gifts are greater than I can imagine. As a human I can only comprehend them.
as God grants me the capability to do so, Thank You, Lord
Gratitude. Just sitting with God this morning. , I will be asking God to help me to feel gratitude for the processes. Having a hard time with that this morning. I claim Romans 8:26. Now to find a way forward. Love to all.
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