Being Grateful

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends and family! I have had a restful day as my family gathered yesterday for a delicious meal. I am getting caught up on a dozen or so things before heading back to a busy work week. Thank you for days off! I love them.

I continue my way through If You Want to Walk on Water, and came across something I had been thinking about—resiliency. I am just beginning the chapter where Ortberg uses Joseph (who wore a multi-coloured robe and was his father’s delight) as his example of resiliency. I had been thinking about my time in DR Congo and then my life in general as I began to see a pattern of resiliency.

Ortberg says that resilient people choose not be passive victims, have an ability to refuse giving in to what goes against their values, have moral courage, and find purpose and meaning in their suffering. I think, too, resilient people believe in something greater than themselves.

I look back over some of the life history events and see that they are grace-filled moments that have made me strong, compassionate, and tenacious. I liked this quote by Beattie when I read it on a friend’s Facebook page today’s. I added the last line though. I am grateful for my past because it helps me make sense of my present and creates a vision for the future.

Yesterday’s second reading was by St. Paul, I think, where he said in Philippians: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Can we learn that enough is more than enough when we learn to trust the One who gives us strength? This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for all I have and know that it may not quite be perfect, but as most of the world does not have half of what I do, it is more than enough. I am learning to be content and praying that God will provide when I need something. I have so many blessings that my heart is often filled and overflowing with gratitude. May those blessings allow me to bless others who are less fortunate than me. Gratitude should not be hoarded.

What are you thankful for this day?

Peace,

Suzanne