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Friday, November 20, 2009

Searching For Gratitude


It's been a hard week this week for several people I know. One woman I don't know wrote me just to let me know she is really struggling and asked me to pray for her. Another friend told me she lost her job. Just like that. Another friend said that she is writing a book and the words just weren't coming. Another friend's mom was admitted to the hospital. And finally another friend emailed me yesterday just to tell me that she was having a really bad day and was very discouraged.

When my friend and I chatted yesterday about her really bad day I confessed that I was having a really bad day too. We found out yesterday that our van has to have a new transmission. It will cost $1500. Right here at Christmas. I wasn't happy. I went around feeling like the sky was falling. The economy has definitely affected us and it feels like the financial security we worked so hard to obtain is fast giving way.

My friend commented that she knows she needs to be more grateful. She said that she is concentrating on being more grateful-- especially at this time of year. I told her that I knew I needed to do the same. So I issued both of us a challenge right then. I told her that she and I were going to search out the things we could be grateful for and then send each other an email with what we found at the end of every day between now and Thanksgiving.

So that's what we're going to do. Instead of dwelling on the bad, we are going to search for the good. And instead of just devoting one day to being thankful we are going to spend this next week focus on gratitude, documenting it and then sharing it. I am excited about this challenge and glad to have a friend who will join me in this crazy plan. Thanks for being a good sport Melissa!

And finally this is a great post on being grateful.
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6 comments:

Bonita said...

About that transmission, of course you're being attacked financially. I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with writing a book about living financially free! ha ha

I was so excited yesterday. It was our last day of co-op this semester and as we were leaving, the church where we meet had placed boxes full of gratitude journals near the door so everyone could pick one up on the way out. What a blessing! I'm so excited to write in mine. I need the physical reminder to find the good amidst the difficult because I certainly haven't had trouble finding the difficult amongst the good!

Christi said...

Love this post! I really am trying to live my life this way... I am by nature a "sky is falling" kind of person, so it's an ongoing challenge for me. But the thankful outlook really does make a difference!

Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Right there with you....remembering daily His provisions (even when it seems like our provisions are flying out the door). Our van....$1700 this month of all month on month ten of our "God watch." (unemployment)Feeling the van pain. :)

Wendy Marcello said...

Hi Marybeth - it was great to hear you speak yesterday at MOPS! I love your blog, and will also take on the challenge of being grateful! You are an inspiration!

robcheryl3@ said...

I am, by nature, an optimist but a friend challenged me to post a "Thankful Thought for the Day" on facebook. I have been pretty good about it. This past 2 weeks I have worked 12 days straight. A few of those days I was just to tired to post anything. I noticed that just posting a thankful thought in the morning made my day go better. It is always good to have a grateful heart!

Julie said...

Thank you for the encouragement. I lost my job just over a week ago and while my husband and I don't know exactly where God is leading us next, we are resting in the comfort that He is in control and that He is already there. The day it happened I was with a friend and she made a comment to the effect of 'I can't believe how positive you are being'. That was the nicest compliment someone could have given me. That was God. I am excited to be home with my daughter now and exploring opportunities that will keep me here.

Ironically, I think what I am most thankful for this year is losing my job.

Julie =)