Like many of you I have seen countless Facebook Updates, Instagram Posts, Tweets and even books written about Gratitude. It seems to be a real focus as of late and for that I’m personally grateful.
As I have journeyed through life and experienced the different seasons whether it be the early years of new love and marriage, the tired years of nappies, cracked nipples, nits and saturday sport or the late nights waiting for teenagers to return home or now as a doting grandmother. I have come to realise how important gratitude is and sometimes wish I had this revelation during those early years, the long days or the late nights.
You see, gratitude can take the focus off what you don’t have or what frustrates you and turn it into the ability to see what you do have and what you enjoy out of life rather than the the other. Gratitude shifts our focus and helps us hold onto hope and even a simple grateful thought can change us on the inside. I don’t about you but when I find myself in the dumps (so to speak) if I try to find something, even the smallest of things to be grateful for (sometimes it’s even shoes on my feet or a gold coin in my wallet) my insides jump. It’s like there is a leap of faith and in an instant my focus has changed. I love that about gratitude.
I recently read something one of my dear friends wrote. This friend is walking through breast cancer and her words of gratitude were not only inspiring but challenging. She gets a lot of strength from her faith and her ability to share her journey is healing in many ways. Have a read from a excerpt from what she wrote:
“Today, I wanted to say that although I would really rather this all be over, I DO know after 48 years, there are some things in life you just have to go THROUGH.
Psalm 23 reminds me daily that this but a shadow. That this too shall pass and on the other side is a great party. Truly a feast like no other. I rejoice by saying, “OH YES THERE WILL BE!!!”
3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.”
She has chosen to walk in gratitude. She wishes it would be over but recognises it isn’t. She understands she’s in a fight and instead of letting herself crumble in fear, frustration or fatigue she has found that place and has verbalised that gratitude that I spoke of earlier. Through this attitude of gratitude she has found hope, strength and the determination she needs to make it through this season of her life.
So friends, what ever season you find yourself in can I encourage you to be grateful. If you find it hard, start small but know we all have something to be grateful for. Maybe it’s as simple as the feeling of the sun on your skin or the sound of rain on a rainy day, maybe it’s a bed to sleep in the roof over your head. We all have something and that something will propel us to discover more.
Enjoy your week and know that as I sign off I am grateful for all of you and that you make Little Miracles worth every moment. We honor you today and thank you for being on this journey with us. Grateful…. always.
Much Love,
Susanna
