Gratitude
Thanksgiving seems like the perfect time to consider the importance of a spirit of gratitude. You've probably all heard the saying about being thankful for small mercies. In the midst of hardship, this is indeed what gratitude is all about. It's about switching our focus from the great to the small.
I can't be thankful for the tragedy of my son's death. Absolutely not! Nor can you be thankful for the weight of grief you are carrying. However, I can find a multitude of small things to be grateful for. God has provided for me in ways I could never have imagined. Looking back over my own journey, I can readily see the number of times God has come alongside to provide for a need. One example that comes to mind is in the planning of Mikael's Celebration of Life Service. The capacity to plan was beyond me, as you can imagine. My youngest sister, Shannon, is gifted in this area and she stepped so lovingly to do this for me.
In the early days of grief, gratitude can be a remote thought. It feels like there is a weight on us that pushes out everything else. It presses down on us, squeezing out the light. It is exactly for this reason that we need to be intentional about gratitude. It is gratitude that creates the cracks to let the brightness back in.
Considering specific situations in which God has provided for us and expressing thankfulness is an action that illuminates the path, helping us find our way. The journey of grief is arduous to say the least, and yet joy can still find us along the road. We need joy to walk with us on this path. Gratitude is the match that lights the candle of joy.
Philippians 4: 6, 7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus.
If you're still struggling with the question of how to remain grateful while still carrying heartbreaking loss, I explore this concept further in the book, Mending Hearts and Anchored Souls, to be released on October 15.
