30 Days of Thankfulness, Day #2 This Practice

This practice forces me to name the gratitude-
even when I don’t feel it.
I race through the house.
A child to school, coffee with the farm boy, coffee with my farmer and coffee buddy,
exchange student to the airport, me to an eye appointment.
I am late to the eye appointment.
15 minutes late.
I called.
Left a message.
I still went.
I’ve waited for this appointment for months.
It wasn’t supposed to be until the week of Thanksgiving.
They got me in early.
And I get there and they tell me I’m too late.
I had called.
I wanted to yell at the lady.
Do you know what I’ve been through to get here?!!!!
I don’t think she really cared. . .
I had shopping to do and I couldn’t do it.
I walked out.
Called my farmer.
Got into my car and did the only mature thing I could think of;
Cry.
I just cried and cried.
I should have left earlier for the airport.
I never manage time well.
I really need my glasses.
The root of all of this was my own fault.
I could’t blame it on anyone but myself.
I felt defeated and I still had a marathon of a day to run.
I knew I needed to start praising God.

It turns life around.
The focus shifts and you are able to see clearer.
Your mind opens up to clarity.
God makes a way.

Psalm 107:1
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

But I didn’t.
Instead I wallowed.
Truly.
I spent most of the day moping, even though I had a laundry list of tasks to complete.
I sat in the chair drowning my sorrow in videos on my phone.
Really.
I was pathetic. 
I have a project I am working on for one of my daughters.
I began to tackle that task; doing something for another.
Slowly I began to began to feel better.
The enemy wants nothing more than for us to feel defeated.
The practice of gratitude leans us towards God.
I need this practice.
I am glad we do this daily challenge.

Day #2 of Thankfulness

I am grateful for:
the reminder to name my gratitude
projects
lessons to remind me to stay the course
our small group
the uniqueness of each of our kids
left over Halloween candy
breakfast for supper
rainy afternoons and baking
a cousin who lives miles away
our God who never leaves us nor forsakes us
bed, I love to go to bed
friends who check in on me
grace

Setting a course this month for the practice of gratitude will be good.
I realize how much I have stepped away from that practice.
Gratitude changes who we are.
It changes our focus.

I hope you join us in this gratitude practice.
Leave us a comment and let us know you’re joining in!