Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his faithful love endures forever. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his faithful love and his wondrous works for all humanity. For he has satisfied the thirsty and filled the hungry with good things. – Ps. 107:1, 8-9
Dear friends of Esperanza,
As the holiday season approaches, I have been meditating on God’s grace and the practice of gratitude. It is easy, especially in these troubled times, for us to fix our attention on our anxieties and struggles. The troubles of each day overwhelm our view, and handicap our ability to fulfill our purposes in life. We are ensnared by the idea that if we could just have this, or just reach that, we would feel secure and content. But if we dared to self-examine our hearts, we would find that external circumstances can never provide the level of satisfaction that we seek.
Re-focusing our attention on our blessings, be they emotional, material, or spiritual, changes our posture and behavior, and by extension allows us to change our own and others’ lives for the better. Being thankful frequently leads us to extravagant acts of generosity. When we understand that most of our blessings – our families, our health, our peace – were not earned, we are compelled by grace to radically love our neighbors, speak out for good, and fight for justice. Gratitude becomes the fuel that moves us to keep serving and striving for good.
At Esperanza, we have been translating our gratitude into service for thirty years, and we would welcome your support and partnership in our efforts! We pray that you and your family will find deep joy, gratitude, and motivation in the knowledge of our God’s steadfast love, and His commission to us to love the people around us.
We wish you and your family a safe, joyous, and meaningful Thanksgiving holiday.
Blessings,
Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr.
Founder, President and CEO of Esperanza