Lessons From a Mother's Heart to Her College-Bound Daughter: Enjoy the Ride & Be Grateful

We will be helping our youngest daughter, Grace, make the first-time move on campus in just a few days.  In all the excitement and chaos, how do I slow time to put into words she will hear, the things so important for her to know and understand?  Holy Spirit, come.  Fill my heart that I might convey these lessons that are monopolizing my worried heart; and permeate her heart to hear what You want her to hear. 

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. – Thornton Wilder

Well, the day is almost upon us; your time living exclusively in this home is coming to an end.  And so, what are some last little lessons I want you to hear?  I guess a thing that I have always tried to stress with all my children is an “attitude of gratitude”.  What does that mean to me?  A grateful mindset solidly in place belongs to a person who understands where all their blessings come from.  The virtue of humility lives in someone who knows they can never deserve nor earn all there is for which to be thankful.  They can’t take credit for any of it- from talents to treasures- as they are all gifts freely given by God. 

A person who has that attitude of gratitude is a much more joyful person.  It is easy to focus on the things going wrong (there will always be those dang things).  But one who tends to channel all their energy in “justifiable anger” and bitterness sure complains a lot.  Why waste a perfectly good day dwelling on the negatives when you can embrace all the good things to be grateful for?  Because they certainly are plentiful!  And who wants to be around someone who is always a “Debbie Downer”?

It’s a conscious habit to develop a mindset that concentrates on the blessings and the thrill of the ride.  It’s the person who loves to carpe’ diem, cease the day that sees life for it’s possibilities, not it’s setbacks and sour grapes.  I love the bible quote from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”  Now that’s an attitude of a successful person, but it must be consciously done. 

Then when you are really zeroed in on being thankful, there are times when you think: I am grateful to be grateful… and it becomes this ever-circling force of positive, joyful focus.  It was at the heart of our Blessed Mother’s amazing canticle The Magnificat when she meets her cousin Elizabeth and the joy of her gratitude wells up within her to share the incredible news of the coming of the long-awaited Messiah as she proclaims: “My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior!”  (Luke 1:46)   

And so, I pray… Lord, I ask for gratitude grace to be dumped down on our Gracie.  Give her this grace to focus always on the many blessings that You give her every day.  Help her to magnify Your goodness and generosity to all those she meets.  Give her joy, give her humility, give her happiness.  Amen

Hail, Mary…