Thanksgiving is a wonderful day in which we are conscious of all that we have gratitude for. This holiday arrives one day every year. Then, it is back to the “rat race” of life. On this day, we feel good for our assets and don’t pay much attention to our deficits. This is just the way it is for many of us. Here, we will think about the other 364 days of the year, too!
The St Andrews Soup Kitchen on the impoverished, crime-plagued East Side of Flint, MI, is a Safe Zone in the neighborhood. It serves the poor, the homeless, the drifters, the grifters, the con artists, the ex-cons, whoever lives or just hustles in the neighborhood. Very few dwellings are owned by the people living in them. Probably the majority of the people are living in abandoned houses, many without windows and/or doors. Many also live in burned-out hulks with more being torched nightly. Or under concrete overpasses.
So many come into the Soup Kitchen every Friday and Saturday for what may very well be their only food for the week. We are open from 10:00AM to 12:30PM. Some come in just to drink some coffee, have some sweets, and chill while feeling safe. If they pick up clothing or shoes at St Andrews, they are not assured that they will make it home without being robbed of them. The “free money” that many were receiving from the Government is drying up and the drugs are, too.
The street drugs and alcohol are killing several in the neighborhood every week. Most of these people swear that they are victims. They heard it from their parents and they tell it to their children. Generations of victims breed more generations of victims. This neighborhood is in the heart of the most impoverished and violent area of Flint. Flint is always in the top few most impoverished, most violent cities in America. Add to this the water crisis that became national news. The only water they can drink comes from bottled water from missions and soup kitchens.
The vast majority of these people who come into the soup kitchen have a gratitude for the food, few minutes of peace, and clothing that can be seen, heard, and felt by all who are using the services. As they leave the hall where they were fed, many will yell across the room just to get the attention of Father Jay to let him know that they appreciate him and the services.
The gist of all this is that some people feel as if they are in a bottomless pit with no rescue in sight. They can not greet even one day to celebrate even one thing that they are grateful for. They feel they are soon to die and/or go to prison. The children even have trouble believing anyone telling them that they had never been in jail or prison. “Everybody has done time!” Because everyone they know has!
Now, I AM TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED. I can not limit myself by waiting for Thanksgiving to show my gratitude for my blessings. I feel compelled to give thanks every day for my blessings. I say “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you” many times each day. The more that I appreciate my blessings, it seems like the more blessings that I receive.
I have had days where it seems like blessings are chasing me around wishing I would take advantage of them. You know the kind of day that I mean. Making all of the traffic lights which are green. Only to find a parking place right in front of the store I was seeking at the mall. Then discovering that I was able to find the item that I needed and it was the last one in stock. Every day is a day to give thanks for my blessings. Sometimes, I have to start super basic. I have a pulse. I have breath. From here, the blessings start to amass.
The way for me to have them grow is to start with the shortened version of the 3rd Step, simply saying “God help me.” Then just get out of his way and let him. “Let go and let God.”
“Then, what do we do?” I’m glad you asked! There are simple little ways to show appreciation when being blessed by someone or something. Start with simply saying “Thank you.” Smile! Do this right away! Expressing gratitude is the surest way to assure that more blessings will follow. Since gratitude is maybe my favorite subject, we will be visiting this topic often and soon. God bless you all!
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