Seven Years of Thankful

It seems very hard to believe that it’s been a year since we celebrated the sixth anniversary of our Ten Things of Thankful blog hop. And what a year it has been!

But here we are, celebrating seven years of focusing on the everyday moments of gratitude. Wow.

In the last couple of years, I haven’t posted very often with the Thankful crew. While I was a very regular participant for a while, the TToT has become more of a daily part of my life than a weekly blog effort. It is absolute truth that it has shaped my mindset and helped me to appreciate my blessings. But every so often it’s a good thing to pause and purposefully reflect on where we’ve been, on what is good in life that makes us truly grateful, and to say it out loud. There’s far too much negativity out there that gets a voice, so balancing it with some hope and light seems like a wise endeavor.

One of the most obvious topics on the world’s mind right now is the COVID-10 pandemic. That’s a big fat crisis scenario for sure. Physical illness and death, mental strain, financial hardship, anxiety, separation from loved ones… These have been the backdrop of the last several months. In the midst of it all, though, I am grateful for the time we’ve had to pause and take stock of our lives. I am grateful that we and our loved ones have been safe and healthy. I am grateful that life has remained pretty much status quo. That is not true for everyone and it is not lost on me just how much of a blessing that is.

I am glad to see people taking time to reconnect with family – very often those with whom they live and interact daily, but at a more mindful level perhaps. I am glad to see people returning to books and music and art and spending time outdoors. Yeah, this has been pretty terrible overall. But if it offers us a chance to restart in a different way that might benefit all of us…OK.

In the midst of the pandemic – and perhaps as a result of it – we have also seen so much racism and injustice brought to light. Once again this is a significant crisis, a clear and present danger that has existed and gone unchecked for far too long. I am all too aware that I speak from a place of privilege. I am aware that my best practice right now is probably to reflect on my own attitudes and behaviors, to listen, and to learn so that I might know better and therefore do better moving forward. The horrors that exist as part of daily life for so many people are absolutely intolerable. If these most recent examples of such horrors propel us into keener awareness and action…OK.

Please do not misunderstand – I am in no way attempting to minimize any of the pain and suffering of anyone in these and other situations. My point is that sometimes it takes suffering to lead us to a place where we can move forward into the next better part of growth. As the saying goes, there is no Resurrection without the Cross. The glory on the far side of things does not erase or alleviate the horror that precedes. But perhaps that bit of faith perspective offers some sliver of hope. There can be – there is – a better version of life. It’s up to us to take the steps we need to, as Christ did, in order to get there.

We are at a moment right now – as a world, as a society, as individuals. It is in this moment that we must take stock of who we are and what has led us to this moment. It is in this moment that we must face our own shortcomings and confess our own sins. It is in this moment that we must seek forgiveness from ourselves and from those whom we have hurt. It is in this moment that we must decide not only that we want to do better, but to actually do better as we move forward. Nothing is gained if we acknowledge our problems and do nothing to resolve them.

It is also in this moment that we can and must be thankful, not only for the good in our days, but also for the challenges that lead us to growth. Let us be thankful for the opportunity to use our suffering to bring us something greater. We may not reach perfection, but with each step we take toward that goal, we become better than we were in the days and moments before. That we have the ability to grow and improve our souls is indeed a gift for which we can be truly thankful.

Be well, my friends. Be at peace – with yourself, with your loved ones, with your world. And always, always take time to be thankful.

 

~~~

Featured image by John Hain from Pixabay