Attitude of Gratitude

Thanks for the feedback from my first post. I had initially thought I would only blog once a week, but as I re-read my first post, I was very aware that I had left out one key component of what I am being in my life and the title says it all. I do believe there are no accidents in this world, only opportunities to take whatever is handed to you (or what your grab with both hands and hang on to like the devil) and use it for good. Literally NO MATTER what you get.

I was on this path early in life but didn't have the language tools to refine the fuzzily defined concept in my brain. I got clarity however a hard way and in a most beautiful way. Everything I have been terrified could happen in my life has literally happened in the past five years and guess what? I'm still standing, better than I ever did. Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid..... (Thank you Elton John.)

I'll not go into it detail by detail, but since 2006 I have had a baptism by fire in this education and have received my PHD in living life in spite of those days when I just wanted to succumb to the waves crashing over my head and breathe the water of my own misery and drown. I developed postpartum depression after the birth of my last child and friends, if you know and are in the throes of that road of despair and depression of which I speak, all I can say is breathe, don't walk it alone, and know it's a season.

I yelled at God, cried out to Him, questioned the very nature and even the existence of Him and finally just leaned into it and let it guide me where it would under the supervision of a trusted therapist, family doctor and phenomenal friends. And man oh man, did the God of the Bible show up for me in a deeply personal and overwhelming obvious way. Praise God that season has passed. And I would not change one single moment of it. It literally gave me a facet of my life that is so precious to me and it empowers me to have seemingly unlimited access to loving others I recognize myself in, which turns out is everyone I meet!

So what does all of that mean in relationship to an attitude of gratitude? I am committed in this life to dislike NO ONE, literally not one person. I will find a way to be grateful for whatever comes my way knowing it will not be more than I can bear. Philipians 4:13 properly translated "I can do (bear) ALL things through Christ who strengthens me." I am committed to not only show gratitude but to actually personify gratitude as a way of being. I reject all unforgiveness in my life. It is literally like sipping poison every day and thinking it will kill the other person. I tried to google that quote as it is not my own and there are dozens of them verbatim or very similar. so I have no idea who first said it. But whoever did, THANK YOU!!!

OK my loves (and yes that is specifically written for YOU). I am off to do all that is in front of me to do. I hope this entry has given further insight as to what I am up to in life!! Have a wonderful weekend and make a difference in someone's life today! It is the best gift you can give YOURSELF.... But more about THAT later :-)