Life Lesson One Gratitude and Thankfulness

 

I could see the stress in her face, I heard it in the tone of her voice and saw the last remnants of control in her clenched hands.

Anger, hidden so deep it transformed into nerve tingling, body engulfing, all-consuming rage.

The kind that simmers on low for years. Then one day, without warning, BOOM, it explodes like a pipe bomb, extending the debris trail to everything in its wake.

Her intense anger prohibited her from letting go of the injustice nor to forgive, even though the incident occurred years ago. Everytime life brought up the betrayal again it was as if it was like yesterday. Her divorce was now in the third year.

“I don’t know what I should do, let alone try to forgive them.” Frustrated she paced back and forth across my kitchen floor.

“Why don’t we change the subject, we can go sit on the patio and enjoy this beautiful day,” I said, in my best reassuring voice.

The afternoon was surprisingly pleasant for the end of summer. We settled into some light conversation as I steered my friend away from her anger.

“What are you grateful for today?” I asked. Nothing prepared me for her sharp answer.

“What do you mean? Should I be grateful for this never-ending mess? He took all my gratefulness and flushed it down the drain. My life isn’t easy like some people I know. Have you lost your mind?” she angerly screeched back at me.

“I’m grateful for the beautiful weather we are enjoying today.” I calmly replied.

I remember when I was first challenged to develop a grateful heart. A thirty-day challenge to write down five things I was thankful for, (a person, place or anything), every day without repeating an item for three days.

I was in a place similar to my friend. I felt the world was caving in around me. Everything was gone or seemed that way. Anger filled my soul. I gazed at the destruction of my life laying at my feet. I was left a mess without a clue how to start picking up the pieces. Betrayal, lies, and gossip destroyed my confidence and undermined my integrity.

A few days later, I challenged my friend to a Thirty-day Gratitude journal. I told my friend how I once struggled to come up with three things the first several days and complained that not being able to repeat something for three days was not fair. My friend laughed as I told her my story. She did not expect me to have struggled.

But I did, more than anyone knew. A business partner betrayed me, and I was too blind to see it. I was bitter, unhappy, angry, and ashamed because I failed when a friend of mine challenged me to my first thirty-day gratitude challenge. It wasn’t easy, but it helped me.

Can you identify with one of us, my Friend?

My friend, Beth accepted the challenge. I encouraged her every night the first week. At first, being grateful for sunshine was difficult for her. To look at life, people, events around her that gave her a feeling of gratitude or something to be thankful for was like pulling teeth. Something she hadn’t felt in the four years since her husband left for another.

The second week was a little more comfortable even though she struggled.

I shared with her I still looked forward to the few minutes each evening I wrote everything down. It gave me a sense of accomplishment. I always remember how surprised I was on the nineteenth day, I listed seven items, from there the list started expanding, some days there were only five.

“It will happen to you, too!” I told her. “Don’t give up.”

I gradually became mindful of my attitude and perception shifting. I felt stronger as I focused on picking up the debris of my life.

Two days remained, I shocked myself as I started saying a little prayer. “Thank you, God, for blessing me in all these ways, Amen.”

It had been a long time since I had felt the peace from spontaneous prayer. The next day the first thing I wrote was the feeling of peace I experienced. That was ten years ago.

PS: My friend, Beth, disappeared for months. She called last month, wanting to stop by and catch up. When she came over, she popped in like it was just last week. I had not heard her voice this cheerful before.

“Your gratitude journal is working miracles,” she said.

“I can tell,” I laughed. She talked for two hours as I listened to her story. I looked at the journal I gave her. Saw the pages she had torn out and re-taped in. I saw tears and felt her smile with all the happy faces she drew.

Sometimes the hardest step is to get started. GIVEAWAY GRATITUDE JOURNAL

I want to be the friend that gets you started on this adventure by offering you a free copy of “Awakening to Awareness A Thirty-day Gratitude Journal.”

Can I be your Friend? I would love to encourage you, and I believe everyone can change their perception by awakening their awareness of what is available around them for gratitude and thankfulness. I prepared this Journal just for YOU!

Interested?  I hope so. There are two ways to get your free Gratitude Journal.

Leave a comment, and I will send you a link to download your Journal. I approve all comments before they are public to protect your privacy.

Or Sign up for my email list. When you confirm your email, you will be prompted to continue to a page to download your journal.

I am looking forward to your story too, Friend.