On The Inner Life, Patrick Conley sat down with Fr. Bobby Blood to tackle the ultimate Christian challenge: being thankful when life is rough. Fr. Blood, who’s got his hands full as a priest and spiritual director at Boylan High School in Illinois, shared how gratitude isn’t just for sunny days but is actually a spiritual superpower.

Check out the whole hour!

Gratitude = Perspective Shift 🙌

Fr. Blood talked about gratitude being a “perspective shift.” When we zoom out of our personal mess and look at life in the big picture, we see that “life is a net positive.” (File that one away; it’s gold.) Our relationship with a loving, generous God is the ultimate context for everything: good, bad, and ugly. And when we start to focus on what God gives us: love, life, and attention; it’s a game-changer.

Suffering Isn’t Pointless 

Mike from Indiana called in to remind us that even suffering can have value, when it’s united with Christ. Jesus saved us from “useless suffering” by giving our pain meaning. What does that mean? Well, when we offer our struggles to God, they become salvific (“they help save souls”). 

Fr. Blood brought up St. Cecilia and the martyrs. They saw their suffering as a chance to glorify God. For us, it might look like handling smaller sacrifices ("ugh, another work deadline") with a spirit of trust and joy, knowing God can use even that for good.

What About Teens Who Feel Alone? 👨‍🎓

Fr. Blood also mentioned the young people who’ve been through trauma or just feel totally disconnected. Teens can struggle to be grateful when they’re drowning in “big feelings.” His advice? Create situations where they can honestly share their struggles without fear of judgment. When they feel heard and loved, that’s when gratitude can start to grow, like a little mustard seed 🌱.

Instead of giving them the ol’ “time heals all wounds” cliché, Fr. Blood encourages parents and mentors to lean in and let kids feel those emotions. Pain that’s stuffed down only gets worse sometimes. But when kids are allowed to be vulnerable, they eventually find rest: and with it, thankfulness.

Takeaways for Us 📝

Gratitude is a choice: It’s about seeing life through the lens of God’s generosity.

Offer your suffering: It’s not useless! Unite it with Jesus, and it becomes a way to grow closer to Him.

Be a safe place: For young people especially, being heard is the first step toward healing and gratitude.

Gratitude isn’t about slapping a smile on tough times: it’s about anchoring ourselves in the truth that God’s love makes life worth living. Even on bad days, “life is a net positive.” So, pass the turkey and maybe a little extra patience this Thanksgiving. 🦃🙏

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