Giving Thanks for Angels

This morning I went to Page Robbins Adult Day Care Center to lead singing and a brief devotional. Page Robbins hosts folks with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia filling their days with various activities and lots of compassion from a wonderful staff. Holy Apostles visits on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. They voices are always joyful and they often sing from memory which amazes me because I cannot.

Today, we sang together, and then I asked them to tell me something for which they were thankful. Every person in that room was able to participate giving thanks for their life, their health, their loved ones, this country, the staff at Page Robbins and for faith. What I thought was a relatively simple question produced answers that moved me deeply. Here we a group of ladies (they were all women today) who despite disease and age were genuinely thankful. Certainly, they could have been angry or frustrated by the reason for being there today, but to a person they smiled and articulated with great clarity their gratitude for the blessings of their lives. I fought back tears.

Although I know we are all grateful for many of these same things, I also know that we can allow life's challenges to create negativity in our attitudes. When I am having a bad day or when the news feels overwhelmingly grim or when being frustrated at things not going my way limits my gratitude and appreciation for all the blessings of this life given by God, I am going to think about those beautiful women at Page Robbins. For today, they were angels and for that, I give thanks.

Peace,  John+

Comments

[Brade Mellow]

When I feel depressed and overwhelmed to the way that i can't wake up, i usually remind myself about the days when things were even worse. That is what makes us feel stronger and grateful for what we have.