Gratitude—Even When You Have To Look For It
It’s November. Even though the Thanksgiving ‘holiday’ isn’t officially until the end of the month, it’s the season where ‘thanksgiving’ is central to everything we seem to do. Preparations are already being made, meals planned, perhaps double checking to see what family is going to join and even some early baking.
The leaves have changed, the winds are blowing and the outside scents remind us Fall is here and Winter isn’t far behind. People often discuss their blessings and share what an amazing year it’s been even with their failures. Memories are shared and stories told, which for them is wonderful.
ARE WE THANKFUL?
But do we feel thankful every, single day? We’re supposed to and perhaps that’s the rub. Our energies or emotions struggle against it. Life is hard. Our hearts are not focused on what is good; it’s more focused on surviving whatever chaos is taking us down! We have memories that are not warm and fuzzy because a tragedy hit just at this time of year. Or there are reminders of things we used to do, but no longer can, or other emotions which just makes hearing all the ‘wonderful-ness’ difficult to swallow.
Some days even daily routines can be nearly unbearable. Then as if adding insult to injury, the small victories we have made seem to go unnoticed by others. It’s easy to feel isolated, overlooked, or even unseen when life moves differently for you.
LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES
All kinds of circumstances can put us in this place. There are those who are homeless, (I think of all those who just endured Hurricane Melissa), those facing financial burdens, medical issues like cancer and what seems like hundreds of other kinds of illnesses, accidents, loss of loved ones, relationship failures, those who have disabilities and the list could go on.
ALIGNING OUR HEART
It’s when we place our heart in alignment with our Creator that we can see through it. With every challenge, step, and breath we take, when we can put God in the center and be thankful for even the smallest mercies, our heart can warm to gratitude.
FINDING REASONS TO BE GRATEFUL
An article I read recently was listing reasons why the author, even with her disability, was grateful! The people she met, her ability to grow resourcefully and become a problem solver, not taking life for granted, her new found passions, and so much more, gave her life and her heart balance.
Some have found 'intentionally practicing gratitude' has helped them to see life as purposeful and joyful, despite any limitations. The author intentionally writes something down everyday which reminds her of unique things for which to be grateful. Some of these includes the ‘gift of sound’, technology, a good hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning, sunshine after a rain, and so many other things, that before she had hearing loss, she’d always taken for granted.
CHANGING OUR MINDSET
Life is going to knock us down. We are all going to face disappointment. But when we can look at these adversaries straight in the eye, and refuse to cave to self pity, anger, resentment or bitterness because of a disability or whatever we feel life has given us unfairly, we are likely to recognize much of our feelings are generated unequally. Stuff happens, and not always in our favor, but an intentional (and honest) heart of gratitude can, if nothing else, ‘change the color’ of how we see the situation and perhaps our world.
Changing our mindset is a little like watching the leaves change color on the trees. It’s a gradual thing; not something we really planned on, especially since we don’t like ‘where we are in life.’ It’s just our life. Still as the leaves turn color, there is beauty that wasn’t there just days ago. Before our very eyes, the world is a stunning blanket of oranges, reds, yellows and other colors that can take our breath away.
SEE THE BLESSINGS AND BE THANKFUL
When we give in to gratitude, our hearts change like the leaves. It wasn’t what we planned. But something grabs hold and won’t let go, so that instead of seeing all the negativity in our ‘space’ or world, we’re suddenly seeing with a new heart. We see with new awareness what we'd have missed if we hadn’t listened to that sweet, small voice within us. That voice… that causes us to ‘give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!’
The world isn’t perfect, People aren’t perfect. But each is a gift. It’s how we respond that matters.