Akil, Class of 2028, currently attends Notre Dame High School. He recently gave a Homily at Morning Gathering focusing on September’s Virtue of the Month, Gratitude. Here is an excerpt.
Akil asked everyone to imagine something they love or couldn’t live without and to talk with the person next to us about what it would be like if they didn’t have this thing in their life. He asked us to imagine something they couldn’t care less about and to think about why they didn’t like or appreciate this thing. Then he asked us to imagine that it disappeared forever.
“Now I know some of you are probably thinking,” said Akil, “It would be awesome if this thing could just disappear out of my life forever! I’m not going to lie – I could probably think of one or two things that I think I can live without for a while. For example, growing up, I really did not like school. I’ve explored this fantasy or hypothetical so many times and they all end the same way … Sooner or later I’d regret not having this thing.
He shared a story about a disappointment that happened back in 2019 when he was in the 8th grade that made him wish he didn’t have to go to school anymore, adding, “There were many times where I just felt like I could just do without school … thinking if I could just do it from home and not have to deal with anyone, that’d be awesome. Literally a month later I got exactly what I asked for (in the form of the Pandemic) And I don’t think I have to go into detail as to how terrible that was!
Long story short, I want everyone in here, whether it be small or big, to appreciate what you have. Sometimes, life is like a game of Uno or Crazy Eights – sometimes, the deck will just give you the worst hand you can think of. It seems impossible to win with this one card in your way but if you figure a way to use it just right, you just might win the game. And sometimes you may not win the game, but these hands get dealt to you for a reason. It will teach you how to get better at this game that we call life.
And with that, let us pray,
Divine Creator,
We thank you for the everyday gifts we often forget. For life’s simple joys and even its challenges, we are grateful. May we find appreciation in the ordinary and pursue gratitude in our hearts.
Amen.
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