Living With Gratitude

I am back from two wonderful days in Three Rivers, Michigan. Spent precious time with my husband, two great girlfriends and their families. Wish my kids were there, too...maybe next time! But it is definitely times like these when I realize how blessed I am.

My friend Laura asked both Don and me this weekend, in so many words, what it is that makes us happy. Caught a little off guard by the question, while I was helping grill some meat for everyone's dinner, I said that right now in my life I'm enjoying all of the new adventures that I'm having. Then Don came onto the deck and she asked him and he immediately pointed toward me and raised his eyebrows as if to say 'you need to ask?' but Laura said, 'Of course, Donna, but what else?'

What I realized after her question kept popping back into my brain as that evening and the next day continued is that it's so much more than that.

For me what it really all boils down to is this: I am grateful. I am thankful. I do not take my life for granted. I appreciate every little thing that each day unveils for me, whether it's a gorgeous sky or the bird song I listen for, or a rainy day that waters my garden so I don't need to. And that is the underlying reason for my happiness.

And that sense of gratitude can be boiled down yet again into another, more concentrated form. My belief that my life is a gift from God is what brings out this feeling of gratitude every day. I am so grateful for the gift I've been given! Most gifts we receive lose their luster after days, weeks, or months. Not this one. Not my life!

I know the D.R. will awaken things in me that I can't even imagine. That's both scary and exciting. I may need a little reminder once or twice when I'm hot and sticky and exhausted to remember how blessed I am. Betting I'll be fine with the help of my two prayer partners, my sister Janice and my friend, Gloria. They have both been praying for my team and me personally to have a safe and successful mission. I will take any prayers and pray-ers I can get, but again feel so grateful for Jan & Glo's caring prayers.

Will I come home from The D.R. feeling even more grateful for what I have? Will I feel guilty for all that I have been blessed with? Will I feel helpless or frustrated or angry or depressed? God only knows. But God is the one who gave me the courage to take this trip, and God's power is what I will be 'plugging into' when I need a recharging during the mission. My strength is nothing compared to God's. And my life is nothing but for the grace of God. And I am so grateful.