During this month of Thanksgiving, we're reminded once again of all the things we have to be thankful for. The Saviour who redeemed us, our family and friends, and the blessing of living in a free country are just a few that come to mind. All good things, of course. But what about the not-so-great things?
Our lives are filled with triumphs and setbacks, laughter and tears, joy and sadness. Celebrating the good times is the easy part. Recognizing the good when bad things happen is hard. But if we peel back the layers and delve a bit deeper we often find, with time, little nuggets of thankfulness springing up from loss and sorrow.
We’ve all lost someone we love, whether it be a friend, a family member, or a beloved pet. We never really "get over" the loss. Rather, we slowly adjust to life without them in it. The joy is the grief! It means someone entered your life and touched your heart in a profound way. What a blessing to have experienced that!
Many of us come from abusive backgrounds or been involved in unhealthy relationships. Breaking free of those ties and dealing with the pain from our past isn't pretty, and the healing process can take a long time. But in the end, we find we're made of much tougher stuff than we ever thought possible, and the circle is made complete when we're able to transfer that wisdom and strength to someone else who is hurting.
Take a moment and think about a bad decision you made in the past or a painful loss you've experienced. Allow yourself to grieve or feel anger if the pain is still raw. Then ask yourself, "What have I learned from this, and how can I find the blessing hidden within the sorrow?"
1 Thessalonians 5: 18: "...Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Divine Healer, ease our hearts and minds when we're hurting and help us find Your blessing in all things.