CHOOSING GRATITUDE
Well, I’ve officially lost count on what quarantine day it is. This season of life has been a little bit of a rollercoaster for me, as my days have consisted of some where the boys and I are thriving, and other days where the weight of it all feels too much to bare. I miss my friends and family and the normal routine of life. I miss going on activities with the boys and date nights with Zach. But I am doing my best to remind myself of all the good, and to cling to Jesus in this time of uncertainty. I am realizing that perspective really does matter.
Have you heard the saying, I’m not stuck at home, I’m safe at home? It was floating around the internet for a while and while it sounds cliché, it really is the truth. One silver lining for me, during this season, is that I am more aware of my blessings and what really matters. With my eyes being more aware of all the blessings in my life, I am doing my best to make a conscious decision to focus on them, instead of letting defeat or anxiety take over.
I won’t pretend this season is not hard. It is. I have had my fair share of breakdowns and feelings of anxiousness. I struggle to not dwell on when life will return to normal, and even then what will normal look like. And I know this season is much harder for so many others than it is for me. But I’m working at keeping my perspective in a way that honors God and helps my soul. I know that my anxiety and worry do not help me. Anxiety robs me of the potential for good that each day holds. Gratitude, however, is the antidote to anxiety. So everyday I am looking and finding so many things to be grateful for. I’m also realizing through this season that what really matters is right there in my home with me. Sure I miss my extended family and friends, and am thankful they are safe, but really I have my boys and Zach, we have a roof over our heads and food on the table, and we are healthy. But even more so than my external blessings, I have my faith in Jesus. I know that no matter what the days bring I can have a supernatural peace that surpasses understanding.
My dad works with people around the world and has been sharing with me what they are facing through this pandemic. He had a conversation with a co-worker in India who said the people there are not afraid of catching COVID-19, but rather they are afraid of dying from starvation, now that there is no work. And yet, the friend in India also shared that people are reaching out to their neighbors and helping others like never before. Everyone is going through a hard time, no matter where you are. But we have to be proactive to counteract hardship by recognizing the good that we still have, and then sharing and helping with others.
This season is difficult for everyone in different ways. Here in the USA, many people are struggling with their daily needs, having lost their jobs. Some people have lost far more than that. It’s right and necessary to cry as you process the hardship this season brings. We have to be honest with our feelings. But try not to stay there permanently.
If we can start each day identifying all the good we have and end each day doing the same, our perspective will change and raise our spirits. We will not just survive these days, we will thrive in them. Take time to grow in gratitude in a way that remains long after the crisis is over. And do good to others, helping shift their perspective as well. Together, we can come out of this season stronger and better.
One of my favorite Scripture verses has been really helpful during this time, and I have been meditating on it to help me gain the right perspective each day.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, bring your need to God wrapped in thanksgiving. And God’s peace, which rises above your understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”