I am having a stressful day. Waiting out emergencies, especially where my kids are involved, aren’t my forte and I struggle with patience and fear. Fear most of all because it is during times like these that I am reminded how little control I have over anything. However, I am also one who has tremendous faith in God, though I have little faith in people who have power over my loved ones. I feel so small and helpless that I need my Creator to see me through so I can do my part- whatever that may be. Still, it is a struggle and I fight with my very human feelings and try to find a better way of dealing with what I cannot control. I need to live the faith I profess and continue to put my loved ones, and my faith, in the hands that hold us all. Still, it is so hard.
So, what does all of this have to do with gratitude? As I negotiated my way through my emotions earlier this afternoon, researched a problem, discussed solutions, and now, wait, I noticed that I have 97 likes on my business profile on Facebook and 100 followers. Seems silly, right? To be struck by this simple thing among the mess I find myself. However, during this stressful and worrisome moment in my life, I found myself touched by these numbers. Humbled. 97 people took the time to like this page and three more than that chose to follow it. Wow. Sure, I know, there are other businesses and pages that have far more than these numbers but those 97 and 100 are mine. And that means the world to me. As I allowed that feeling to move through me I realized it was a gift from God, a reminder in this darkness, and the gift called Gratitude is exactly what I need to see me through. In a world full of stressors, pain, and fear; worry, ugliness, and outright evil, I can still be grateful for the good. So I am grateful for all of you.
I then realized that this number doesn’t count the people who hold space with my words on this blog, on this website. I know that people stop in every day and for that time, that action, I am grateful. If you are reading these words right now, I am grateful. You may think this is a minor thing, a passing glance at a stranger’s words, but for me, right now, it is everything- the ultimate gift. It is a lifeline. My gratitude for you has enriched my hope and trust in my Creator and for that- I can never thank you enough.
I try to be positive and upbeat during difficult times and the world often makes that difficult. Evil, whether it manifests as greed, abuse of power, or worse, is hard to overcome when it comes at you full force. When this happens, it is up to us to dig deep and fight it with all the light we have. Sometimes, we lose the battle but we must never lose hope that the war will be won by the light in the end. One of the weapons in our arsenal of light and goodness is gratitude. If we can find something to be grateful for, and there is so much to be grateful for, then evil cannot take the prize. In this turmoil, where I have no control over the actions and decisions of others who would hurt my children, I can have peace because I am grateful. I am full of gratitude for each and every one of you. Thank you. You have no idea how much you mean.
If you could take a moment to pray for my family today, that the light may overcome, that good triumphs over evil, I would appreciate it. Whatever you have in your arsenal of light and good, please send it my family’s way. And remember that I am grateful, no matter the end result, for the opportunity to be here in this space and time with you.
Remember- when life gets hard, when life is unfair, when evil seems to have darkened all your skies and stolen your hope and replaced it with fear, remember what you have to be grateful for. Gratitude is a gift, a powerful weapon, and one that can help you overcome the worst of evils. Feel free to reach out if you need anyone.
Feel free to use this gratitude mantra by Jody Bergsma(2013) in her Magical Times Empowerment Cards booklet:
“Today I will focus on being grateful. I am grateful for my bed, the roof over my head, running water, my clothes, my shoes, my friends, my country. I give thanks for the birds, the grass, the trees and flowers. I will say thank you, thank you, and again thank you and my life will blossom and be filled with joy.”