Being able to kneel, and feeling grateful for it

The ability to kneel before the cross of Jesus Christ. That is what I have been most thankful for this holiday season.
That’s a very practical bit of gratitude. I injured my knee in early September and was in pain the better part of two and a half months, some of it pretty severe. I wore a knee brace part of the time; saw four different doctors for treatment, including an orthopedist; basically quit exercising for two months; and had trouble walking for a good portion of the time. I had to park close to my office for weeks, and when I flew to Florida for a conference in early November, I had to have an attendant wheel me from check-in to my gate. I hurt. I worried. And I did not like being dependent. Kneeling at Mass? I didn’t do that for close to two months, so being able to test my knee – though with my body against the pew – close to Thanksgiving was a blessing.
The ability to kneel before the cross of Jesus Christ.
That’s also an acknowledgement of the country in which we live. While I think there are still plenty of people who are prejudiced about Catholics and who never miss a chance to take a swipe at our church, legally we are protected. Legally, we can choose to worship our God as we please. I choose to worship him as a Catholic Christian, and I am grateful that I may attend Mass when I so choose, that I am a member of a couple of faith communities that are loving and supportive, and that I am a citizen of the greatest nation on the planet, where I do not have to hide who I am or what I believe.
The ability to kneel before the cross of Jesus Christ.
The truth is, there are many things for which I am grateful this Thanksgiving and throughout the year. Don’t get me wrong, there are also many things that make me grumble, many things that I regret, and more than a few things that I think God and I will probably chat about when we meet face to face. But while I love my family and friends; while I have a wonderful job doing something I enjoy and work with some really marvelous people; while I have a roof over my head, pretty clothes and more than enough food; while I can walk and see and express myself, ultimately what I am most grateful for is my relationship with God. So this Thanksgiving indeed that for which I have been most thankful is to be able to kneel before the cross of Jesus Christ and to know the promise that comes with that cross.

Patricia Quigley is a freelance writer from Incarnation Parish, Mantua.