GRATEFUL TO BE

facing the sea

"I'm grateful to be in this world." ~ Alexis GiordanoWho is Alexis Giordano? My 5-year-old granddaughter. She said this at the dinner table during a recent family reunion.After praying, "God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food," we each took a turn asking for a blessing or expressing a gratitude.Alexis' addition surprised us all and left us silent for a moment. This morning, as I recall what she said and how she said it, I am again a bit stunned and stirred.How often am I grateful simply to be in this world? Simply to be?How often are you? How are you feeling about being in this world today?Along with the words of a 5-year-old child, let's be stirred by a portion of the often-quoted poem, Desiderata:"...whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy."With peace in our souls, may we be grateful to be in this world.(God bless all the animals in the world too...as twin brother Anthony added.)