In Times Of Struggle, Choose Gratitude

A few weeks ago, I wrote that my husband, daughter, and I had attended the church less than a block from my daughter's new apartment in Kansas City. We all enjoyed not only the warmth of the people that attended there, but also the warmth of the message and their commitment to inclusion. I wish I could attend every week, but it's a two and a half hour drive each way, so I have had to be content with watching their Facebook live stream while my daughter is lucky enough to attend in person.

I was struggling to write my Ten Things of Thankful this weekend, because I felt guilty about having so much for which to be grateful when there are so many horrible tragedies occurring: flooding in Tennessee and South Carolina, wildfires on the west coast, the fall of Kabul, the earthquake and tropical storm in Haiti, Covid numbers soaring. But this Sunday, during the live stream, the senior pastor said a prayer that really moved me. She said the calming presence of the Lord is reassuring even as the world seems to spin chaotically and is filled with so much anxiety and grief and uncertainty. She said the only thing we can do about it is choose how we will respond, and she believed we should take a few deep breaths and choose to begin with gratitude. I cannot agree more. Here are my ten:

1. I love my nugs at school so much! Are some of them more difficult than others? Yessss, but I still love them so!

2. My knees are getting better after my stupid fall. The bruises are gone, and the swelling has lessened. My right kneecap is still verrrrrrrry tender, but I can get down on the floor with my kids and back up again without wanting to cry....

3. I bought a different kind of boot to try to help heal my plantar fasciitis. You may recall that the one I borrowed from my friend was a wee bit too small, and my toes hung over the edge and went to sleep. This boot is more complicated to put on, but my big ol' foot fits in it, and it seems to be helping.

I look old and decrepit.

4. Last year, I included grape Propel water as a thankful, and shortly thereafter, there was a grape Propel shortage that lasted for MONTHS. A few weeks ago, I included Milo's ice tea (the one sweetened with Splenda) in my thankfuls, and I'll be damned but it didn't disappear from the shelves. I ran into Neighborhood Market last night, and I was pleased to see there were at least a dozen gallons on the shelf, so I breathed a sigh of relief and didn't immediately buy six of them to hoard.

5. When we were at the small town where my mom grew up for my cousin's burial, my dad took me by the farm that his parents bought in the early 1950's and which led to my parents meeting each other and getting married. To my knowledge, I had never been there other than as a baby before they moved away. 

My dad said the house hadn't really changed from
when my grandparents lived there....

6. I found this perfect Fiestaware carafe at the Salvation Army thrift store for only $25. I've seen them online anywhere from $50 to $100, so I'd say I got a pretty good deal!

7. I bought a muumuu. Because I get hot when I'm getting ready in the morning, and the bathrobe I have is too heavy for this kind of weather. I found this beauty at a thrift store, and it's not only loose and flowy and just what I needed to stay covered (I don't like getting ready while nakey) but not swelter. AND IT'S HOMEMADE. I'm in love.

My awesome muumuu.

8. I live in a Covid hotbed. Our positive rates are some of the highest in the nation, BUT today, it was announced that my town has reached 50% vaccination rate, and it's the highest rate IN THE STATE. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I got that news.

9. I couldn't get a good picture, but I got out of my car in the grocery store parking lot to see this smiling dog sitting in the car, waiting for his person to come back (the car was running, so pupper was fine). This made my day.

If you look REALLY CLOSELY, you
can see that he's smiling.

10. I am very thankful for the ability to enjoy a church service that always touches me without attending in person. If there's one positive from Covid, it's that we have found out there is more than one way to do something.

Get out there and choose gratitude.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter