Gratitude

And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* Matthew 6. 25 - 33

As one whose worry factor is as strong as my sense of smell, this question Jesus poses in today's reading is a real challenge. Worrying seems genetically ingrained in my being, sort of like the color of my eyes. And when people tell me not to worry, it is like saying change the color of your eyes! However, on this national day of Thanks, I find myself balancing my worry factor with gratitude, thinking about those things that are a given in my life for which I am eternally grateful, like clean, hot running water, coffee at the press of a button and the greeting of grandchildren who love unconditionally.

Yesterday I was also reminded of the four men in my life who surround me with love ( as well as suggestions that I not worry!) and promises to take care of me for the rest of my life. I was also reminded of eight grandchildren who love and laugh unabashedly and whose presence I cherish most of all.

This year we have been warned that Thanksgiving could be divisive, contentious and full of ruffled feathers. Knowing full well that our house will be filled with people from both sides of the political/religious spectrum, I will focus on being thankful for a shower with hot water and good coffee and grandchildren, checking my worry factor at the closet door and claiming Julian of Norwich's statement "all will be well, all will be well, all manner of things will be well!"

I hope this will help any of you who share the high intensity worry factor, knowing that it will not add a "single hour to your span of life" but instead it will take hours off your span of life!

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends.