Grateful

As I sit here and try to focus on the positive things in my life, I remember that I have always said that I was going to start a Gratitude journal about a 1000 times. I am not sure why I always buy journals and never write in them, maybe because just like everything else, real life takes over and I forget to "stop and smell the roses." I was actually thinking about this last weekend, because I had had a pretty rough weekend and was emotionally drained. I was desperately searching for something to ease my pain. I started to not even go to church, but I felt this strong desire to be there all at the same time. Upon my arrival at church, I discovered that one of our dance ministry groups was on the program.

I thought, "Great, now maybe this will make me feel better...because Lord, I
REALLY need something from you right now."

Well guess what they decided to dance to? They were dancing to Grateful, by Hezekiah Walker. I just love that song...it always brings tears to my eyes, and helps me remember that in the midst of all the pain, I have A LOT to truly be GRATEFUL for. After service was over, I thought,

"Okay, Lord I get it... no more excuses. I need to start focusing on what you
HAVE DONE for me , instead of what you ARE NOT doing because you may be working in my life and I just can't see it just yet. It is now time for me more than
ever to start my Gratitude journal. Maybe if I focus on the things that ARE good
in my life, it will have me when dealing with the things that ARE NOT going so
great right now."

I am still a little hard-headed though, because it is now almost 4 days since Sunday, and I am just now getting started. So here is my list for the week (as I set the mood, by listening to the song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx_vdEZQnBc



I am GRATEFUL for.....

• For our beautiful and brilliantly smart little girls


• God giving me an AWESOME example of how to me a mother, from my own mother and grandmother


• Being able to have my grandmother actively in my life for as long as I did (I really miss Grandma)


• For having a job to get up and go to everyday


• Not having to figure out where my next meal is coming from


• Even though sometimes we are not sure how the bills will get paid, it always seems to work out


• The years that I have had with Kevin thus far. Even though we have had some hard times, I have learned more about myself throughout the marriage that I may not have learned any other way


• The support and love from family


• The friends that I have who TRULY care about me...I have been very fortunate for the ones that I have had and still have...they have truly been a blessing. People always seem to come into my life in different seasons for different reasons, but it is always at just the right time


• That God has been a strong presence in my life continuously tugging at my heartstrings (even when I have told him to stop and leave me along) for the past 3 years...didn't know then why, but without him I may have been a lot worse off

Now, will you accept my challenge? Listen to the song in the link above, and then think...What am I GRATEFUL for?