Here’s a sneak preview of my upcoming “The 40 Day Challenge: Mother Teresa Edition,” which starts Ash Wednesday, March 1. Hope you can join us!

Start with the Prayer of Abandonment.

Today’s theme is “gratitude,” the sister virtue to generosity. Those who are thankful tend to be naturally generous.

As I was researching material for Lent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta, I came across a quote for which I was unable to find the original source (and so did not use it in the book), but I think it has a special application to today’s theme and so I wanted to share it with you. (The first person to send me the correct source information will get a free copy of my book!)  It is said that in her children’s home in Calcutta (Shishu Bhavan), one of her older girls died. This is how Mother eulogized her:

“When God gave you to me he never said that you were mine, that I could keep you always — only borrowed for a time. Now, he’s called you home, I’m sad and I shed tears. Yet, I’m glad he loaned you to me and we had these many years.”

I think these words of gratitude can be applied quite nicely to marriage, as well. Our spouses are not our property, to do with as we please. No, they are gifts God gives us to help us progress in the School of Love, to be fit for heaven.

Today is the day we are going to celebrate, to thank God for, the gift of each other. When you look at your spouse, what makes you most grateful that God loaned him to you “for a time”? How are you going to express your gratitude today?

Are you enjoying this Lenten series? Please support the effort if possible by picking up a copy of Lent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta. This week only I’m running a special! Get your copy this week for just $12 (postage paid). My address: 10350 Royal Oak Ct., Osceola IN 46561. Thank you!