When I was 17, I was diagnosed with cancer. The day after I found out, I started chemotherapy so intense that I spent two to three weeks a month in the hospital. Yet I’ll never forget that in that first week of my treatment, while vomiting, losing my hair, and being told that I wouldn’t return to school to finish my senior year, I decided to make a gratitude list.
My list contained such items as “my sight and hearing,” “my family,” “competent doctors” and “decent hospital food.”I don’t remember what compelled me to write such a list at such a difficult, confusing, and frightening time in my life, but I remember realizing that there were so many things in my life that I took for granted. At a time when I could so easily feel sorry for myself and focus on how hard my life was and how many of my dreams and plans had been shattered, I chose to focus on what I did have and what a blessing that was.
I’m ashamed to say my attitude then was in many ways much better than it is now. I may tell myself I’m more “mature” and “experienced” now, but the truth is that I was often more positive and faithful at 17 than I am at 26.
But I don’t intend to stay that way. I’m a Christian, which means I believe that Jesus died for my sins, giving me the opportunity to be a completely new person every day of my life. I don’t need to be stuck in the negativity and bitterness that can so easily consume a person’s life when he or she is confronted with suffering and loss. I can choose, as I did at 17, to be thankful. When I do, I realize that though I’m going through many difficult things that most people don’t have to deal with, I also have many blessings that other people don’t. We all have different burdens and different blessings, and who knows if we’d be able to handle someone else’s load?
I’m not going to list a new “gratitude list” here for the sake of space and time, but I’m going to try to adopt that attitude and think about the things that are going well and the blessings God has given me instead of the problems.
Philippians 4:6-7 CEV
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.
P.S. You may think this post is a bit late, seeing as Thanksgiving was a couple days ago, but my Canadian friend recently informed me that Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated in October! So I figure Thanksgiving has yet to arrive this year in some part of the world; either that, or I’m getting a head start for next year.
My list contained such items as “my sight and hearing,” “my family,” “competent doctors” and “decent hospital food.”I don’t remember what compelled me to write such a list at such a difficult, confusing, and frightening time in my life, but I remember realizing that there were so many things in my life that I took for granted. At a time when I could so easily feel sorry for myself and focus on how hard my life was and how many of my dreams and plans had been shattered, I chose to focus on what I did have and what a blessing that was.
I’m ashamed to say my attitude then was in many ways much better than it is now. I may tell myself I’m more “mature” and “experienced” now, but the truth is that I was often more positive and faithful at 17 than I am at 26.
But I don’t intend to stay that way. I’m a Christian, which means I believe that Jesus died for my sins, giving me the opportunity to be a completely new person every day of my life. I don’t need to be stuck in the negativity and bitterness that can so easily consume a person’s life when he or she is confronted with suffering and loss. I can choose, as I did at 17, to be thankful. When I do, I realize that though I’m going through many difficult things that most people don’t have to deal with, I also have many blessings that other people don’t. We all have different burdens and different blessings, and who knows if we’d be able to handle someone else’s load?
I’m not going to list a new “gratitude list” here for the sake of space and time, but I’m going to try to adopt that attitude and think about the things that are going well and the blessings God has given me instead of the problems.
Philippians 4:6-7 CEV
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.
P.S. You may think this post is a bit late, seeing as Thanksgiving was a couple days ago, but my Canadian friend recently informed me that Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated in October! So I figure Thanksgiving has yet to arrive this year in some part of the world; either that, or I’m getting a head start for next year.
Great attitude to adopt! I know you're on my gratitude list :)
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