Search
-
October 22, 2019The last weekend of September was Catholic Charities Sunday. Thus far we have received hundreds of donations, with more in each day’s mail. We have received over $60,000 in gifts so far, which is slowly approaching halfway toward our goal of $150,000. That means we still need a lot of help, as we rely on your generosity as members of our churches and communities to help those in need in North Dakota.
We are thankful for your encouragement, and to the Lord for his example and the strength he gives us. Each one of your donations is much needed and much appreciated. I truly believe this, and try to take a moment to personally let supporters know this. Much of our funding comes from people giving $25, $50 or $100—regular people like you and me doing what they can to help others who are less fortunate.
Many times I have discussed those in need and how Catholic Charities serves them. I’ve also examined how busy we seem to be and where all of our time actually goes, the influence and impact of so many electronics in our lives, and whether we truly give of ourselves or just our surplus. I have also discussed the little way of St. Therese of Lisieux and how St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta reminded us to do little things with great love. Building upon these thoughts, I want to challenge us to also consider the impact of gratitude in our lives and of our little acts of gratitude upon others.
Think carefully about what you receive in the mail each day. How much of it would you consider junk mail, advertisements, and bills? Most of our mail we don’t want or need, and it takes valuable time just to sort through it. Many people have told me that they just don’t have time and so they often toss or recycle a lot of their mail before reading. In fact, just the other day I found myself doing this for the first time. Or how many people no longer answer their cell phones because of all the robocalls? Perhaps email is the worst of all because of how quick and easy it is to send thousands of spam messages.
I don’t believe that people don’t want to read their mail or answer their phones. It’s just that we don’t have the time to look at everything. There are so many interests competing for our attention, and so much stuff that it can be overwhelming. Thus I asked myself, why do I bother when so much of my own mail is just ads and bills? Here’s the answer that keeps me checking my mail: each time I still have a little hope that there’s a message that will give me joy—that will warm my heart or light up my soul.
The bills don’t give me joy of course, but every once in a while other mail does. Maybe it’s a letter or card from a far-away family member or a long-lost friend. It may be an informative newsletter from the charity, church, or community I support. Often it’s a thank you note. It could even be information or a sale for a new and exciting product that is necessary and helpful. While I can’t just throw away or delete the bills, they aren’t what keeps me sorting through the messages. At work and each night when I get home I still have that hope deep down, somewhere hidden, that a worthwhile item may be in there.
How much more does one heartfelt message stand out in the sea of spam we encounter? As we approach Thanksgiving next month, I want to take time to thank all of you for your support. If you have given to support our mission, thank you. If you have told others in need about our programs, thank you. If you have served on our staff or as a board member, thank you. And if you gave us the privilege of serving you or your family or friends as a client of ours, thank you. The honor and pleasure of serving and joy of giving and receiving is ours. Even with the bills, we can be grateful for the products and services received. Expressing gratitude is a joy and a privilege—so why not write a note, make a call, or send a message thanking someone right now, and it will be yours (and theirs) too!
Chad Prososki is the Director of Development and Community Relations for Catholic Charities North Dakota.