Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Pursued by Truth

Home
Catholic
Nun Learns Thanksgiving Lesson from Homeless Man

Nun Learns Thanksgiving Lesson from Homeless Man

Last updated on: November 25, 2015 at 3:53 pm by Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

Nun Learns Thanksgiving Lesson from Homeless Man 2015-11-25T15:53:49-04:00 Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Photo credit: Dean McCoy Photography / Foter.com / CC BY

Several years ago I received this email from a Dominican sister for Thanksgiving. I asked permission to share the reflection because it was an example to me of the beauty of religious life and the call to compassion in the Christian life. When we ask God to enter our hearts, he changes us and allows us to see his face in that of others, especially the suffering. This sister’s love for a person who was forgotten, misunderstood and ignored is an inspiration to me. I hope it is an inspiration to you. – Sr. Theresa Aletheia

– – –

How do you give thanks? I have recently learned that I should not only should ask myself, “What am I grateful for?” but it is also good to be mindful of how I express my gratitude.

As I invite you and myself to be with the question, may I share with you a story of the person who led me to this thought?

It was Kenneth.

Kenneth is presently going through radiation therapy for his colon cancer. Most people, without knowing him, would assume he is homeless. And he was; and perhaps he is. Nowadays, he earns just enough by selling Berkeley’s homeless street newspaper to supplement his medical cost and pay for $250/month room in Oakland. He makes sure he looks clean and his fingernails are short and neat.

When you ask him how he is, he always responds with, “I’m blessed.” He says this with such conviction in his eyes and a kind smile that spreads all over his face. He answers this way even when he can barely stand and move due to the radiation treatment that leaves him weak.

Last night on my way home, happy to see him again, I sat down to chat a bit. During our conversation, he had to rush to a public bathroom, staggering across the street full of cars rushing by. When he returned, his usual cheerful face was filled with frustration and sadness. The memories of the misunderstandings and the mistreatment he receives for being homeless and for not being able to control his bowel movements had rushed to his mind, leaving him feeling desolate.

When he has an accident on the bus, more than once he has been asked to get off the bus by the bus driver because he stunk. He often felt judged as incapable, and lazy because he sat on the sidewalk to sell the newspaper.

But what pained him most was the feeling that he had nothing to give back for the gratitude he felt to those who have been good to him. When people put money into the cup, he offers his newspaper. But, many, for different reasons, decline to take it, thereby quite unintentionally robbing him of an opportunity for him to say thank you.

We were in the midst of our conversation, tears running down both his cheeks and mine, when a young woman approached and squatted down to put some money into his cup. He offered his newspaper. She gently refused.

Softly, I whispered to her, “Please take one. It’s his gift to you.”

She then offered a cup of tea she had in her hand to Kenneth. He can’t drink soda, coffee, chocolate or tea because of his condition. But, he looked at her with a long pause and asked whether she had gotten that just for him. She said yes.

At that, he reached for it, saying, “I’ll drink it then. Thank you very much!”

He graciously accepted the gift, knowing what it would do to him. To honor her intent by accepting the gift was his way of saying, “Thank You!” And, he did more than just accept it. Because she had gotten it for him, he tried to drink it, which rushed him again across the street…

How do we say, “Thank You” to the Giver?

On this Thanksgiving Day and on each of our days, may we cherish not only the gift but the givers and the Giver! May the Love who gave us life and the love that sustains us remain alive in us. May our beings proclaim how blessed we are. May our living be the blessing for one another.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Previous Post

November 24, 2015

When Relating to God as Spouse Feels Icky

Next Post

November 30, 2015 Should You See "The Letters" Movie About Mother Teresa?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Art Atheism Book Reviews Christmas Church Issues Discernment Easter Ecumenism Entertainment Environment Eucharist Evangelization Family Freebies Guest Post Holy Spirit Inspire Me Interreligious Dialogue Jesus Lectio Divina Lent Life Issues Liturgical Season Mary Media MISC Movie Reviews Pauline Pope Francis Prayer Prayer Intention Religious Life Saints Sanctity Scripture Social Justice Social Teaching St. Paul Theology of the Body Uncategorized US News Vocations World News Writing Year of Mercy

Select a Month September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

You are robbing me in tithes and offerings. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse and test me in this. What will I do?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Open the floodgates of heaven Care for the poor Forgive you Return it tenfold