Gratitude is the Memory of the Heart by israel portilla gómez
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart” is a quote from the 18th-century French bishop Jean-Baptiste Massieu. Undoubtedly, we all have moments of gratitude. And today, I would like us to come together in gratitude for two reasons: for all the people who have reached out to us without knowing us, and for Mother Nature. We often are not aware of it, and I want to share two brief personal experiences.
First. Last year was the first time we were able to go net fishing in Alaska, and we went to Kasilof in the late afternoon and evening. Since it was our first time, we did not have all the proper equipment. My 9-year-old son was very excited and determined to fish; however, the water was cold, and he did not have gloves. His hands were freezing, and he told me in Spanish that, after several hours, they were very cold. I offered to take over with the net in the water, but he preferred to keep going. Nearby, a woman noticed this and, without asking him anything, went and brought some gloves and gave them to my son. I asked her how much they cost, but she said nothing. My son was able to continue fishing comfortably with those gloves, and this year, when we used them again, I had fond memories of her. I don’t know her name, but I remember her face and her generosity.
The second experience: This year we went net fishing in Kenai on July 28. We spent seven hours submerged in the cold water, with a bit of wind, and caught only five salmon. Most people were disappointed, because last year at that time, each family would have easily reached their catch limit. On the way back to Anchorage, someone mentioned to me that fishing at Fish Creek was better. I had never been there before and did not know anyone who was planning to go. But my son and I decided to give it a try on July 30. We woke up at 4 a.m. and drove there to be ready by 6 a.m., when fishing was allowed. High tide was at 8:18 a.m., so the best time to fish is supposed to start two hours before that. We arrived on time at the small creek. It was 7:30 a.m., and we had not caught anything, but the people around us had. My son, who was nearby, was frustrated, but I told him how important it was to be patient and resilient.
Someone standing in front of us, who was aware of our situation, reached his limit and offered us his spot. From that moment until 9 a.m., we caught 40 salmon; on one occasion, the net even caught 7 fish at once. Around 8 a.m., the run of fish heading upriver was so massive that everyone there was catching them. The excitement and joy were contagious; you could hear laughter and shouts of jubilation. I could hardly believe that fishing could be like this. Once again, I am grateful to that person for their generosity in offering their spot, and, above all, I am grateful to nature’s abundance for providing us with food for the entire coming year.
Dear friends, today I invite you to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to our God of life, from the deepest of our hearts, to all the people who have selflessly helped us, and to Mother Nature for blessing us with her abundance and beauty. Amen.
Rev. Israel Portilla-Gómez (He/him/his) is Associate Rector at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. 2222 E Tudor Rd, Anchorage, AK 99507. [email protected]. (907) 563-3341. Ext. 13.
