Thankfulness: 5 min Cure to the Toxic pity party

Though November ushers in the season of thanksgiving, many are having difficulty finding much to feel grateful for. In truth, 2021 has been a tough year. We are still dealing with covid, mandates, job closings and increasing inflation. But, if we look close enough, we can open our eyes to what we’ve taken for granted and refill our hearts with gratitude.

“Occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped would be, grieve the losses, then wash your face, trust God, and embrace the life you have.”
-John piper

I think we all have those days when we’ve had a bad day or just don’t feel good. As a woman, I always have a running mental list of things that need to be taken care of. I accomplish one thing and add 10 more to the list and some days, I just feel like I’m wading through quicksand.

For me, It’s almost easy to slip right into the habit of stink face. That old fallen nature of “SELF” pity, poor me’s, I deserve’s, discontents and annoyance over tiny things. It’s as though a magnifier has been placed in front of my face that inflates my mole hills into mountains and I’m the one holding the handle! This pity party is TOXIC to joy and worse yet, its contagious to others.

I recently took a gratitude challenge and it has made me much more aware of these times, my reaction to them and given me the ability to stop, assess it and change my direction to right thinking. As magnified as my issues may be in my head, a quick reality check adjusts my focus in the most humbling way.

Take a mere 5 min. and start with the little things that you generally take for granted that you are gratefulfor. That’s all you need.

1. This morning I washed my face, made and drank coffee followed by a glass of lemonade, then started a load of laundry. All was performed with the turn of a knob that produce crystal clean water.

Today in the world, a woman like myself is spending the day, from sun up to set, walking back and forth over miles to carry jugs of dirty water back for her village to survive.

2. I went to the fridge and pantry, choosing from the shelves of food that which sounded good to eat, made and ate eggs with bacon, hashbrowns and biscuits with jam.

Today in the world, an emaciated woman is holding her starving child to her empty breast.

3. Last winter, I looked outside, it was freezing with a rain/sleet mixture coating the patio. I turned up the heat, curled up on the couch with a blanket and read for awhile.

At that very same moment, somewhere in the world, maybe within my own town, there are people without shelter and warmth, under bridges, in cardboard boxes, vulnerable.

4. I called my mother on Mothers Day and my dad for Fathers Day this year. All my kids called home and placed each grandchild on the phone to show their love and appreciation to us as well…

Though, all over the world, parents just like me are mourning their lost children and children of all ages, wishing they still had there parents to talk to.

Margnifier still there? I didn’t think so.

Our view can often become so narrow that we take for granted how abundantly blessed we truly are. I think taking the time to really acknowledge the overwhelming state of blessing and grace in which we live also corrects the direction of our hearts and we become a little more patient, kind and readily helpful to others.

Whatever my day or yours holds, God has confidently placed these within our hands to manage. We can deal with all lifes circumstances because He strengthens us and in committing these things to Him and performing them as if we were doing them for Him, redirects the pity path to one which not only lifts the spirit but glorifies Him.

Today let our anthem be:
This is a day that the Lord has made. I will (I will too) be glad and rejoice in it.
Todays happy: Revelation of right perspective and glorifying the Lord in our daily lives with the gratitude of understanding that we are deeply blessed.

Always With Love – Laura💕