I have a friend Liz (Elizabeth Stanley) who is battling with cancer. Each morning I look for her status updates on WhatsApp…. “Up and thankful” she says every morning. She goes on to extol God in a few updates declaring Him her healer or whatever perspective she has of God that morning. It’s never the same updates either, not copy and pasted from yesterday. She posts pics of her family and all the people she loves. It is beautiful. She battles the scary monsters in her life with gratitude.

I imagine that every morning can’t feel like sunshine and roses but she declares who her God is, not what she is going through. Scripture says in everything in all circumstances give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Everything? All things? Nah maybe that should read most things or some things. Yet, when I get complainy and agitated that my circumstance doesn’t reflect my expectation, that scripture whispers to my soul. I’ll admit, sometimes I do an internal eye roll and think You must be kidding. I take a deep breath and I start grasping at what feels like straws scattered across motionful ocean. But as I begrudgingly note the little things I am grateful for I start finding more. The straws become logs or a door I can lay on until the rescue boat arrives. I’m sorry if you didn’t get that Titanic reference but it was too easy not to use. I digress.

Up and thankful! I am alive and clearly if you are reading this so are you. Believe me, if you think of your darkest day, the day that makes you cringe when you think about it, even that day has some thing you can be grateful for. On my darkest day the best of us was stolen from us but it could have been six of us. On that day every device of value was stolen except the one resting prominently on the chest of drawers a gift Chris had sacrificed to buy for Matthew. It would be the last one. See gratitude is possible.

Think back on your D-day. What can you be thankful for? And if that day isn’t today it should be easier to make a list. If you need to write them down so you can repeat them through the day. Do that.

Today I’m grateful for…

You taking the time to read my posts

I am physically well

I am loved and I know it

My boys did not wake me up early, they let me sleep in

My Family

God’s peace that rests in my heart in a way I cant understand

The deals I’m believing for when I go to the supermarket today. šŸ™‚

Now it’s your turn. Post your gratitude list in the comment section below.

Write Fully Yours
Lady Kavan

14 Comments

  1. Liz January 18, 2020 at 12:37 PM

    I am grateful l could be an inspirationā€¦l appreciate you Kavanaugh Dickson Williams in more ways than onešŸ˜¢

  2. Soy Deli January 19, 2020 at 8:26 AM

    I am grateful for this post that reminds me to be grateful no matter what.
    Iā€™m grateful for my family.
    Iā€™m grateful that Iā€™m alive and well.
    Iā€™m grateful that God didnā€™t give up on me.

  3. Shadine Bessentie January 19, 2020 at 10:25 AM

    I am grateful that I am awake this morning. Also grateful that even thought I am not where I ought to be yet, still I have hope and the drive to continue to push for it. Funny thing, we are currently doing this semester long project for ENC1101 šŸ˜Š

  4. Nakia Wallace January 19, 2020 at 9:33 PM

    I am grateful for the persons I have in my life and for the many blessings God has given.

  5. Stevelyn Washington January 21, 2020 at 2:51 PM

    Thank you jesus for life thank you that your mercy are new in my life every morning it is a privilege to be alive and well hallelujah to the lamb of God

  6. Zanetta January 23, 2020 at 2:07 PM

    I read this last week, the day after my birthday and I reflected on a couple things I was/am thankful for: 1. though I was sick on my birthday, I still had a great day because I was able to celebrate my 6 year old who shares my birthday. 2. I have family and friends who continue to be a blessing to me. 3. God has done some amazing things in the last decade that continue to blow my mindā€¦WOW ā€œUp & Thankfulā€!

  7. Marcia Tomlinson February 4, 2020 at 1:04 AM

    Thankful for Godā€™s perfect love and for life, opportunities to love others and to be lovedšŸ’•.
    Thankful for you Kav and that youā€™ve shared your gift with us.

    Marcia Tomlinson
    February 3,2020

  8. Odeen Francis March 7, 2020 at 2:44 PM

    Today Iā€™m grateful for:

    Godā€™s love and evident presence in my life.

    Being the most financially stable than Iā€™ve ever been.

    Friendships that share my burdens and add joy in volumes.

  9. Holly McClain November 26, 2020 at 1:55 PM

    I am grateful for Godā€™s faithfulness and all the blessings he has given us through the years.
    I am grateful for my family, my friends and Sisters in Christ.
    I am grateful to know I am loved my God and Im healthy enough to have the chance to give loves to others

  10. roxanne mykoo April 19, 2021 at 1:17 AM

    I am grateful that God’s love for me is unconditional and no matter what happens in this life I am grateful that His plans for me is greater than this is one. šŸ™ŒšŸ¾