When my Mother cooked one of her specialty meals like homemade gnocchi, our family rained abundant “thank you’s” down upon her for this absolutely delicious dish. My Mother just smiled and replied calmly with these words: “Thank the good Lord for putting me here first.” She then went back to "creating" in the kitchen! It took me a while to catch her meaning. I just couldn’t see what the good Lord had to do with my Mother’s gnocchi. But as I grew up, I understood exactly what she meant.

My Mom was talking about her gift of life. She was reminding us that if God had not made her first, and given her life, we would not be enjoying her great gnocchi festa!

My Mom was teaching us a lesson we often forget, i.e., how everything we have, we owe to God! No matter what we accomplish, whether a great gnocchi meal or a world acclaimed masterpiece painting, God deserves all the credit.

My Mother understood this! She only wanted the credit to go to the right person. My Mother always thanked God first. And God, like us, loves hearing her wonderful words--“Thank You.”

This Christmas why not give God the gift He will appreciate the most--our simple gratitude for our gift of life. And then we can use my Mother’s humble words: "Thank You God for putting me here in the first place”-- and then go back and continue doing all those ordinary, or even great things--for the others in our daily lives!