By: Sr. Ana Gonzalez, OP

Staying grounded in gratitude in the ordinary, daily experiences of life can be challenging but also insightful. Let me share with you some experiences of how easily we can overlook the ways that God is present to us and how we can reshape the way we see things through a practice of gratitude.

A few days ago, I was chatting with my mom. As our conversation started to get a bit heated, she said, “Ándale pues, Kaboom.” (Translated as “Whatever, Kaboom” in English.) That struck a chord and brought back a flashback to when I was a pubescent ball of emotions. Back in the 1990s, there was a cartoon, Katie Ka-Boom, about a sweet teenage girl who suddenly threw tantrums and became an unrecognizable raging monster. I suppose my mother saw parallels between that fictional character and her eldest daughter. Kaboom became a nickname she used to point out that I was being over-the-top dramatic, illogical, and throwing a tantrum over nothing. After she used the nickname, I would storm off to be alone and commiserate in my “sadness” and “misery.” Eventually, I would eat a big piece of humble pie after realizing I had been so focused on my limited experience of how things ought to be. God bless my mother for putting up with teen Ana. 

Recently, I had the joy of having my family visit me in Columbus. My determined eleven-year-old nephew became fascinated by a young cow or bull in a pasture and was convinced he needed to pet it. Knowing the fence was electric, and that approaching the animal was not a good idea, I encouraged him to admire it from a safe distance and enjoy the beauty around him. 

Unfortunately, taking after his dramatic auntie, he became so focused on what he wanted that he missed everything else. A rabbit hopped by only a few feet away. Fireflies began to appear in the field. Dragonflies danced above the tall grass, and the sunset painted the sky with beautiful colors. Intent on the one thing he could not have, he overlooked all the gifts right in front of him. 

As I reflected on that moment, I realized how often we can be like my nephew—or like pubescent Ana. We become focused on what we thought our lives would look like, what we wish God would provide, or what we believe would make us happy. In doing so, we can unintentionally miss the many ways God is already present and blessing us. 

Our society and our unrealistic desire for control can sell us a false sense of happiness. It can be so easy to become narrow-minded and focused on what we think we are supposed to do, get, or become that, when life unfolds differently, we grow sad. Those feelings are real, and it is okay to acknowledge them. At the same time, it is important not to get stuck in the “tantrum” of not receiving things the way we expected. When I start to get angry or stuck in a rut, I am invited to ask: What blessings might I be overlooking because I am focused on what I do not have? Where is God present in my life today? 

This week, the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. In the Gospel, Mary came to the tomb searching for Jesus. She expected to find Jesus' body, and because she was so focused on that expectation, she did not immediately recognize that the Risen Christ was standing right in front of her. It was only when she heard Jesus call her by name that she recognized His presence. 

 Sometimes we can do the same thing. We become so attached to our expectations that we fail to recognize how God is already at work in our lives. Yet God is there—calling us by name, walking beside us, and inviting us to trust. 

 While I thank God that the teen-age years are behind me, sometimes, I get focused on the way I believe things should be. When disappointing, sad or upsetting thoughts arise, before I turn to "Kaboom," I take some time to ground myself and ask a few questions: 

• What am I grateful for at this moment? 
• Where have I experienced God's love today? 
• How might God be inviting me to notice God’s presence right now? 

Gratitude does not erase our disappointments, but it helps us see beyond them. It opens our eyes to the countless ways God continues to bless us, even when life unfolds differently than we expected. 

I invite you to practice gratitude too. Take a moment every day to reflect on one or two specific things you appreciate, like being able to enjoy a walk in nature or joining friends for a meal. Consider keeping a gratitude journal to write down and capture those moments of appreciation that blessed your day.

For those who might be discerning a call to religious life and desire time to reflect on the goodness of God’s presence in their life, we are offering a Come and See Discernment Retreat, October 2-4, 2026, at our Kentucky Motherhouse. For more information, contact Sr. Ana Gonzalez, OP at [email protected] or call or text me at 614-416-1922 or 475-224-0519.