Thursday, October 08, 2015

Thanking Clergy


 In honor of Clergy Appreciation Month I wrote the following in gratitude to the many Clergy who were always there for me.  The ones from my childhood to now.  They all have a special place in my heart.   It's like the song, To Sir With Love... How do you thank someone who has taken you from crayon to perfume?   Only prayer can equal the value of gratitude. 





October is Clergy Appreciation Month!
 
It’s like Father’s Day, but not really.  On Father’s Day we show appreciation for our fathers (and father figures) who have guided and loved us through all our faults and graces.  They love us because of the sincere and intimate relationships we have with them: we come from their gene pool, they encourage us to persevere, or they protect us from the world.  Our Fathers deserve the day of recognition for the sacrifices they make out of love and obligation.
 
Do we need a Clergy Appreciation Month?  It can be challenging to say “thank you” to clergy because we might not see clergy as people who genuinely love us.  For some people, the fact that the church signs a check for the priest’s salary implies that the priest has to love them.   “It’s their job.”   They have to come to the hospital in the middle of the night. “It’s their job.” they have to listen to our burdens until we find peace.  “It’s their job.” The truth is, the love a priest has for his parishioners is a gift from God.  Most clergy are willing and enthusiastic to go above and beyond the “call of duty” to care for parishioners entrusted to their care.  They respond to a calling from our Creator, not a paycheck.  Their love is genuine, not serviced.  (To keep reading...)

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