By Carlos Aedo

Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are enjoying some time off today with family and friends.

As a Chilean, I first experienced Thanksgiving when I moved to the United States for graduate school. I have since learned to love this holiday that is celebrated with a fantastic meal and expressions of gratitude.

I have a lot to be grateful for. We all do. God has given us many gifts.

I'm grateful to share a meal with my family around our table this Thanksgiving — last year, my daughters ate pie with their grandparents in the driveway on a 35 degree day.

My family also lost a dear friend this week. As we grieve and process this loss, my wife, my daughters, and I shared memories of this person that we are grateful to have. Gratitude did not erase our pain, but it reminded us how much goodness and joy our friend brought to our family. There is always a glimpse of God trying to emerge, even in difficult situations. For that, I am grateful.

As you prepare your dinner, find a few quiet moments to express your gratitude to God. Here's An Ignatian Examen for Thanksgiving that might be a helpful guide.

May God's love inspire gratitude in all of us, and may the peace of Christ be with you.

Un abrazo,

Carlos Aedo
Executive Director
Office of Ignatian Spirituality