By John McDermott
Vice President, Marketing & Development
Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska
Around this time each year, it’s natural for us to look back and feel grateful for God’s countless blessings. For me, during the Christmas season and at the start of a new year, I thank God for all that He has done for me over the past year – not just in my personal life, but in my work life. I’m blessed to work at Catholic Social Services and am so thankful for my co-workers, our volunteers, and those who support our mission through prayers and with material and monetary donations. I’m also blessed to have the opportunity from time to time to see how grateful those who come to CSS for assistance are for any help we can provide.
A few years ago, when our offices and food pantry were located in the garden level of what is now the John XXIII Center, I experienced this show of gratitude firsthand. It was just a few days before Christmas, and I noticed a car pulled up next to our office door. The driver got out and opened the truck, with about a half-dozen cases of canned vegetables stacked in it. He started to carry one in, so I went out to give him a hand.
After bringing in his donation, I thanked him and offered to give him a receipt. He politely declined and said, “I’m just passing through town. Years ago, I was coming through Lincoln from Michigan and had some trouble. I was so thankful that you folks helped me out, and I just wanted to give back now that I can.”
CSS staff member Alexis Brouillette has often seen the gratitude of those we are blessed to serve. This past November, Alexis was working at the front desk at our Lincoln site when she noticed a family sitting at a table in our lobby.
“It was a little boy, probably about 5 years old, his mom and a friend of his mom’s,” Alexis wrote. “They were cleaning up the table after eating soup and were saying ‘thank you.’ I didn’t think much of it at first, but then I noticed the shocked look on the mom’s face. She told me her son is nonverbal and had never spoken before! Yet there he was, standing there with a big grin on his face! ‘Thank you,’ he said. Those were his first words – and they were words of gratitude. His mother was just beaming with joy!”
These two encounters bring home the point made by Brother David Stendl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, who has said, “The root of joy is gratefulness... It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” These two encounters, and countless others, bring this quote to life.
Please know that we are all so grateful for the prayers and support we receive at Catholic Social Services from everyone who assists us in our mission of providing Hope in the Good Life. But more importantly, please know your support is received with gratitude and joy to those we are blessed to serve. Thank you!
