Gratitude

In the past month we have had two bomb cyclone blizzards.  The first one was wild.  It knocked our electricity (and water, given we're on a well) out for a day and left us feeling an immense amount of gratitude for our everyday luxuries as well as our gas burning fireplace and stovetop.

The last storm wasn't nearly as strong, thankfully.  We hunkered down, though, and I think our community, in general, was much more cautious and prepared.  The first storm left around 1,000 people stranded in their cars overnight with winds gusting up to 100 mph around them.  I can only imagine how cold and scary that would be!

After our two snow days last week, we got more snow yesterday and again today.  We had 70 degrees and sunshine a week ago.  I laid out in my swimsuit and got a smidge of color, even.  Spring transitions are hard for me.  Its discouraging to get a taste of summer only to revert back to winter.  I got depressed, unmotivated, and agitated.

But God brings storms in our lives....every day.  Some storms are trivial like a toddler suddenly refusing to eat something that they have always loved but have found the satisfaction of being able to say 'no!' and throw it.  Some days the storms are hard and heavy and leave us feeling queasy, shaking, and palms wet with sweat.

We have choices.  We can let the storms scare us.  We can be frustrated when they keep reappearing when we are ready to move on.  We can swear at them and scream.

We can also choose differently.  We can choose to pray.  To ask for peace, wisdom, comfort and healing.  We can choose to find things to be grateful for in the midst of the madness.

Sometimes I choose both.

My dog, though, as you can see....LOVES the snow.  Who am I kidding, she loves every single day.  I love how her ears flop and tail wags as she runs.  She's the cutest, isn't she?

Most days I take her with me to pick the boys up from school.  I'll open her window and she puts her face in the strong wind...her ears flapping wildly.  My hears wants to explode as I watch her happy.  She brings so much joy to our lives.

God is right there, too.  All around us.  Flowers, skies, trees, mountains, beaches, lakes, food to feed our family, roof over our head, running water and electric.  Breath in our lungs.

There is ALWAYS something to be grateful for, right?  In the gratitude is the peace, the joy, the happiness.  Perspectives change when we practice gratitude.

So the next time you're in the thick of things and life throws a storm your way...what will you be thankful for?  What are some of your foundational blessings?  What are some of your simple, everyday blessings you can focus on when everything else doesn't make sense?

Hold those tight.  Be grateful.  Feel the storm calm...soon the sun will warm your face again.