Give Thanks in ALL Circumstances?
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).”
This was a bible verse I LOVED before The Accident. It was SO easy to say what I was thankful for.
To me, I had what was known as “The Perfect Life.” I had a wonderful husband who was successful (and still is) in his career. We had three beautiful and healthy children. I had the perfect job of teaching at a high school that we call “Disneyland” because it’s so wonderful to work there. Our extended family all lived within 30 minutes of us, and we really couldn’t have asked for anything more. So, I was thankful in ALL circumstances...
Until The Accident.
If you’ve gone through some type of loss, you tend to wake up the next day and the world looks so different. I vividly remember looking at the trees and thinking to myself, even the trees seem gray; nothing is as bright anymore.
The color I saw the world in went dim the moment I lost Sadie. Not only did I live in a haze in my mind, it was physical too. The color all around me had a dull film over it.
My “Perfect Life” was no longer. This is the life people pray they never meet.
I know I did.
Yet, here I am asking God how am I supposed to be grateful in ALL circumstances after the loss of my child? There's no way I can do that.
As the days and weeks progressed, so did the color in my world. I don’t think it’ll ever look as bright as it did with Sadie, but it’s getting better.
When I think of color contrasts, I think of my phone. I’m able to make my screen brighter by a click of button, yet there are no buttons in this life-- no rewind, no color contrast, no replay, no pause, no delete.
Although I wish I had those buttons, I have the Bible. It is more powerful than any button we could imagine. The Bible has changed the way I look at life now. It’s a new perspective I have on life and being grateful in ALL circumstances, to me, means this:
I am thankful I had two and a half short years with Sadie because she has made my life better. I am a better person, wife, mother, friend, and teacher than I was before I had her.
I am thankful for the intimate relationship I now have with God. His mercies and grace are unwavering.
I am thankful for my boys and the color they bring to my world.
I am thankful for the opportunities that God has provided for us in the wake of loss.
I am thankful for the kind of love I have felt from strangers, family, friends, and most importantly from God.
I am thankful for the new people I’ve met and friends I’ve made.
I am thankful for Trent and our growing love we have for each other and our family.
It’s easy to be thankful in ALL circumstances when you’re riding the top of the wave. But when the wave crashes, barely leaving you breathing, what can you find to be a positive??
What is something that you’re struggling with? What is something that you’re questioning God about? Can you find a piece to be grateful for in the puzzle of life??
I pray you are able to see the goodness in the darkness. That you find that the valley still has things to be grateful for. Lift up your head and hands and speak to Him of your thankfulness. And if you can’t find anything to be thankful for? Ask Him. Ask Him what you need to know in your valley.
He will answer you in His perfect timing.
Happy Thanksgiving, friends!
*Pictures are from last Thanksgiving, 2016. Sadie knew how to feast! 😉
