In answering these two questions, I would like to quote two paragraphs from Chapter 1 of the book The Gratitude Project edited by Jeremy Adam Smith et al.

“First, gratitude is an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received. This doesn’t mean that life is perfect; it doesn’t ignore complaints, burden, and hassles. But when we look at life as a whole, gratitude, encourages us to identify some amount of goodness in our life. It’s easy to miss the good, because we simply get used to it.

The second part of gratitude is figuring out where the goodness in our lives comes from. We recognize the sources of this goodness as being outside of ourselves.  It doesn’t stem from anything we necessarily did ourselves in which we might take pride, Sure we can appreciate positive traits in ourselves, but true gratitude, involves a humble dependence on others: we acknowledge that other people—or even higher powers, if you’re of a spiritual mind-set—have given us many gifts, big and small, to help achieve the goodness in our lives.”

As Catholics, we do believe that God, the author of life, has given us many gifts of various sizes.  The greatest gift that God has given us is the ability to love.

It is not easy to always recognize God’s love or even to love God and our neighbor- let alone our own family! At times we can become worn out, suffer fatigue, and even become grumpy with our daily life, I know at times I do.

What if we build and nurture a spirit of gratefulness as a way to recognize and thank God and our neighbors for all they provide for us- yes, even our own family!

Where most of us need help is with the execution of cultivating a spirit of gratefulness.

On this page you will find videos, activities, and exercises to help build, cultivate, and nurture a spirit of gratefulness.  You are welcome and encouraged to look at what we have to offer and determine which would best suit you. Then do it!!!

In prayer and gratitude,
Deacon Kevin Woodvine

As August nears the end and Labor Day approaches; our summer begins to come to a close and family life seems to shift into a different speed.  Our energy turns to thoughts of school, getaway weekend trips, and plans of upcoming holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. 

St. Bernadette’s Gratitude Garden is also going to be shifting into a different life as well, it will be leaving us for the time being. 

The Gratitude Garden came to life in front of our church building from the       response we received from our Forty Day Lenten Gratitude Challenge. The  Gratitude Garden ushered us into a Summer of Gratitude.

And what a Summer of Gratitude it was!! We heard about many blessings from people who placed gratitude as a main reflection point of their week or even their day.  Many letters of gratitude have been sent and received between friends and family.  A spirit of Gratitude has taken root in many lives and the family of St. Bernadette is richer for it. 

That is why we are encouraging everyone to make a Gratitude Garden at your own home. In this booklet we have some ideas and ways that you, your family, and your friends can take St. Bernadette’s Gratitude Garden into your own home.

I would like to share a quote with you by Brother David Steindl-Rast that I hold close to my heart. “It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It is gratefulness that makes us happy.”

In prayer and gratitude,
Deacon Kevin Woodvine