GRATITUDE

Gratitude.

I honestly think it’s what drives my upbeat, positive personality. As a kid, I remember family worships where we would go around the room and each person would say what they were thankful for. At the time, of course, I didn't have the mature insight to understand how helpful this was.

Now, looking back, I truly understand what my parents were trying to help us grasp. They knew that gratitude shifts your perspective from your own anxious worries to the tiniest, seemingly insignificant things that we all have to be thankful for.

The simple fact that you have the ability to read this blog post is something to be thankful for. You have an electronic device to read it on. You have leisure time to browse the internet where you found my writing (sometimes I stretch that leisure time a bit far, if I’m being honest). You woke up this morning with breath in your lungs. There’s a good chance you had several options for each of your meals today.

What if you took stock of even the most mundane of things you have to be thankful for? Would this change your worries about things which you have no control over? Christ calls us all to lay our burdens down at the foot of the cross and let Him take it all away (Matthew 11:28-30).

So today I’m sharing a list of things that I’m thankful for today. I could look back in time and list all the things that I’ve been thankful for in the past, but I’m simply focusing on today.

• My son ate a healthy breakfast.

• My husband made it to work safely.

• Gus and I were able to take a beautiful, morning walk.

• I have a small, but faithful audience of friends and family that read my blog posts each week. (Thank you to YOU!)

• I have ample access to technology that allows me to reach people beyond the comfort of my living room.

• The sun is shining and the promise of warm temps is just around the corner.

• I can see and hear the birds from my favorite spot on the couch.

• I have amazing family that I get to spend time with over the next few weekends.

• My husband has the greatest work ethic that allows me to stay home with our sweet boy.

• Gus is growing and learning faster than I thought was possible.

• His first tooth came through with no problem at all!

• I have a God that is okay with my questions that I asked Him today.

I hope that you find peace in meditating on what you’re thankful for today. Maybe it’s a list of specific people that you’re thankful for. Maybe you write down Bible promises that you’re thankful for. There’s no wrong way to express gratitude.

I pray as you see God’s goodness through your gratitude that it lifts those heavy burdens off your shoulders.