The Attitude of Gratitude

Twice in the past week, God has been bringing to my attention the importance of a grateful spirit. I have been reading the book, Simple Abundance, by Sarah Ban Breathmach. One of the ways that she cultivates a grateful spirit is by keeping a notebook in which she daily writes five things that she is thankful for. She said it has dramatically changed her life. She is out looking for things to be thankful for instead of things to whine about.

I stayed home on Sunday morning because I wasn't feeling well. Bill's aunt had loaned me two tapes that she had gotten from her daughter. These tapes were from a ladies' retreat at her daughter's church. Cynthia Brubaker, a very dear friend of mine, was the speaker. She very powerfully--through Scripture and through life examples painted a picture of the beauty of thanksgiving.

Twice in one week was enough to get my attention. I don't think God is asking to be thankful for bad things. Sickness, calamity, pain, and death were not God's idea at all. They are a result of sinful mankind. He created a world of perfection. But God, the great Redeemer, can redeem these bad things for His glory. It is in those things that we can always give thanks.

I haven't bought my notebook yet. I haven't been to the store. But I want to develop the habit of gratitude in my life. So I will start by naming five things I am grateful for today.

1. My daughter, Maria. She set her alarm and got up and made me breakfast in bed because she knew I wasn't feeling well. Then she cleaned up the messy kitchen.

2. Rain. We desperately needed it. We got a little over an inch in the last 24 hours.

3. My friend, Kim, who calls me often to see how I am doing, or if I need anything.

4. My prayer warriors--you all who have prayed for me. You often check up on me to see how things are going.

5. For God's grace that takes me through each day.

6. I just have to add one more--Aunt Cora just walked in the door with 5 loaves of freshly baked 100% whole wheat bread.

Now a brief update on my health. They changed my medication. I had my fifth round of chemo on Thursday. The first few days I felt terrific. But by Saturday night the picture had changed. I get to deal with a whole set of side effects. I still don't feel like running a marathon, but I do feel a bit better then I did the last several days, so hopefully, things are looking up!
5 treatments down and 3 to go!!!