It is easy, and even a pleasure to list down what we are grateful for when things are going splendidly great. So when things are not so great, and you're pressed hard to write even no 1 on that grateful list, what do you do? Well, abandon it altogether, since there's nothing to be grateful for...right? WRONG! Quite the contrary actually, this is the time to really ponder upon and look for what to be thankful for, to purposefully think about, recall, and write down what we are grateful for. It is in times like these that the grateful journal would be really useful, to force us to look for the good, despite the circumstances.
Our kids were ill once, so we had to cancel plans with a friend. And he said the most amazing thing, so unexpected, quite crazy & irritating when you're sponging 2 sick kids and wiping vomit off your clothes, but it was so profound that I'm still pondering on its wisdom. He said, give thanks for your kids' illness, thank God for their sickness, in all circumstances give thanks. Well, it was more bitter to swallow than the gross medicine I was shoving down my kids throat, but just like the medicine that made them better, those words have stuck with us and reminded us to give thanks at all times. Giving thanks has refreshed our souls, and reminded us again and again of His overflowing blessings.
So go on, write that list, you'll be surprised at the number of things we have to be grateful for when at the surface all seems gloomy. Maintain a grateful spirit, and remember past blessings to get ready for more in the future.
