By Charleen Burghardt
This morning started off on a difficult note. I lost the temporary crown on my tooth, and I didn’t sleep well due to congestion. Plus, we are leaving on a trip tomorrow. I didn’t feel positive or grateful.
The dentist got me in and fixed my tooth. I said a silent “Thank you.” The clerk at the pharmacy was beneficial and courteous. “Lord, thank you for the kind lady. I needed that today.”
Thank you, Lord.
Are you going through a time of disappointment or grief? Maybe you are
experiencing the loss of a loved one, a lost dream, a defeat, or another setback. All these can bring grief and sadness. Sorrow can both crush us under
its heavy weight and consume us to obscure our vision. Furthermore, we find
ourselves aware of our loss or losses, only to focus on what or who we have
lost. Returning to everyday life seems impossible while our thoughts and feelings
deny us.
Grief from any loss and gratitude seem to be opposites. How do we see beyond grief to be grateful?
Gratitude and thankfulness rarely rise to the surface in our time of sorrow. Despite not feeling grateful, we can make a conscious decision to look for one interaction, one event, or one thing for which we can be grateful. Finding one notice and silently thanking God for it can give us hope. In addition, thanking can aid in healing.
Grief and gratitude seem opposite.
“Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude,”
Colossians 4:2 MSG. This verse in Colossians reminds us to pray and to keep our eyes open to gratitude.
Some days, you may feel stretched to find something for which to be
grateful. Listen to a bird singing. How about when you finish an overdue task? Say, “Thank you.”
When a friend calls or texts, stop to be grateful. Smell your morning coffee and say “thank you” for a fresh cup. Being aware of the small things brings a new perspective on our circumstances.
Eyes Wide Open
Moreover, gratitude can actually be an antidote to feelings of hopelessness. I woke up feeling hopeless today and wondered if I could get my tooth fixed. Gratitude changed my mood.
An antidote to despair comes as we look for signs of God working in the everyday
events. We can find blessings amid the sadness when we take time to express
gratitude, says Leslie C. Allen from A Liturgy of Grief: A Pastoral Commentary on Lamentations.
God is working in everyday events
A favorite author of mine, Ann Voskamp, tells of her struggles with multiple losses. In her book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are,
she describes the challenge she gave herself to list gifts in her life. As she became aware of small gifts during her day, she wrote them down. A habit developed. When she noticed the gift and wrote it down, her mood and perspective changed. The Gratitude Journal she wrote provided a way to reflect and review.
A habit developed.
Voskamp relates how the seed of gratitude creates a miracle.
“And when I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, I make a place for God to grow within me..…. Gratitude for the seemingly insignificant—a seed—this plants the giant miracle.”-Ann Voskamp.
Seed of gratitude
I have made a habit of listing five things each day. My thoughts turn to the little gifts God puts in my life, and I notice my perspective changes. I am becoming more positive.
Start a list of seemingly microscopic things in your life, little gifts, for which you are grateful.
A miracle in our hearts happens.
If you are grieving or have experienced a disappointment, gratitude will help improve your perspective. Gratitude doesn’t change the circumstances, but changes you.
Dear gracious and good God,
We want to be aware of the gifts in the everyday moments and learn to thank you. Even when we don’t feel like being thankful, help us express our thankfulness to you. When our feelings betray us and circumstances look discouraging, please help us be grateful for the gifts around us.
Amen
Check out another post on Gratitude: Gratitude is an Act of Faith and The Power of Gratitude
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A recent book by Charleen on grief: Where Hope Rises: 60 Devotions for Walking Through Grief with God.
Grace Offers Hope,
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