Fight for the Grateful

 

Be grateful.

I've said it. You've said. Everyone has said it at one time or another. But have you ever found it hard to feel grateful? I don't mean being appreciative of someone who helps you when you really need it, loving a gift someone buys you, or when something unexpected happens, and it simply makes our day. We can all think of things and people we are thankful for. I am referring to those times when things happen to us that we're not so happy about. I'm talking about being grateful for the things that aren't so great. The things on the surface that don't seem to be very praiseworthy. 

Today, for me, it was snow. 

• Cold
• Wet
• Heavy
• Unexpected

Snow. I know, I know, snow is beautiful. I agree with you. And it is something to be grateful for. It's just that since my divorce, snow just doesn't seem to have the same appeal it used to. Years ago, I loved the snow. The kids would play, make snow forts with their friends, have snowball fights with each other, build the fattest snowman they could make, and dress it in my clothes. My son and I would always go to the Middle School and sleigh ride. It was a yearly tradition. Not a year went by that we didn't get there at least once. Sometimes we would bring another sibling or a friend, but most of the time it was just the two of us. I loved those days. But it's different now. Snow doesn't mean fun. 

Snow means work.

Snow means shoveling. Alone, and a lot. Of course, the kids help me when they are around, but most days I'm the only one home and able to take the time out of my day to shovel. I grew up shoveling. My dad had a bad back, my older sister was allergic to physical labor, and my mom would not pick up a shovel if I was buried under two feet of snow. I was used to shoveling. And I enjoyed it. It was good exercise. But it used to be a choice when I was married. Years ago, I volunteered to shovel. I wanted to shovel so my kids could play instead. During those precious years, I happily shoveled while they made memories in the fluffy white piles of fun. 

It's different now.

Shoveling then was a choice. Shoveling now is a necessity. And I'm not going to lie, as much as I enjoy the exercise and fresh crisp air, I spend some of the time grumbling to myself as I push the snow from one side of the driveway to the other. 

• It wasn't supposed to be this way. 
• He should be here shoveling.
• He's probably warm and cozy inside.
• At least he could text and offer to help.
• Doesn't he know I'm tired?
• He's probably happy that he lives in an apartment now.

Oh friends. This was not an isolated incident. Nope. Every. Single. Snowfall. And let me tell you, the conversation in my head is more tiresome than the shoveling itself.

So I changed the conversation.

This time, when it snowed, and I started grumbling and complaining to myself, I made a choice. I thought about the message the pastor gave last Sunday on Gratitude. I thought about Thanksgiving just a few days ago, and how much I had to be thankful for. And I thought about how much more productive it would be to tell myself a different story today. So I did something different. I chose to be grateful. I actually started naming things out loud.

• I'm grateful for the beautiful snow.
• I'm grateful that my wrist healed in time for the first snowfall.
• I'm grateful I'm healthy enough to shovel this much snow at my age.
• I'm grateful that I have a house with this much property to shovel. 
• I'm grateful I don't live in an apartment and got to keep the house after the divorce.

Maybe you don't like the snow or cold weather, but you can be grateful that you're not sweating just stepping outside. Maybe you are dealing with a chronic illness or injury, but you can be grateful that you are still alive to spend time with family and friends. Maybe you do live in an apartment, but you can be grateful that if something breaks, it's the landlord's problem. And that you don't have to shovel. 

Whatever you are dealing with today, there is always something to be thankful for. Sometimes we wake up, and with one look around, we can name 10 things we are grateful for. Some days we wake up, and we have to fight for the grateful. It's on those days, friends, that we have to dig deep and really focus on what's important. 

• Faith
• Family
• Friends
• Forgiveness
• Love
• Health

Even if all you can be grateful for today is that you woke up and took a breath, that's something. Look up at the sky and thank God the sun still shines and the moon isn't really made of cheese. Smell the rain before it falls on your cheek and be thankful that you can smell the flowers it waters. God gave you one more day on this earth for a reason. Another reason to believe that there is more to be grateful for than to grumble about. So if you don't agree with that today, fight for it. Fight for the grateful, and you will live happily ever after, after. After you do.

Give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is God's will for you

in Christ Jesus. 

- Thessalonians 5:18