Over a decade ago, when my parents got divorced, I struggled to find peace in my heart and my place in the world. I cannot recall the details of the occasion, but one of my church youth group leaders shared the idea of a "gratitude journal" with us. I found a beautiful little journal, and began writing every week. I wrote anywhere between one and ten things that I was grateful for. At first I wrote the large blessings in my life: a home, family, church, the opportunity for education, freedom, etc. As time wore on, I noted the small things that I am grateful for: hot chocolate on a stormy day, fall leaves crunching beneath my feet, tickle wars with my sister, a much needed talk with a friend, etc.
As I noticed and wrote down the large and small things in life, I began to live in a greater state of awareness. I found peace in a period of my life full of turmoil and confusion from both family problems as well as teenage years and political problems. And as I practiced gratitude, I eventually found myself.
It has been a few years since I have even thought about my old gratitude journal. Recently I feel like I have been so overwhelmed with all of the changes in my life (both good and also difficult) that I have forgotten about the daily practice of gratitude. The gratitude in my prayers has even gotten more than a little rote rather than conscientious and deliberate.
I am setting a new goal that for the rest of this year I will write down a few things I am grateful for in my journal every Sunday.
And as far as today goes, I repeat the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“For each new morning with its light, for rest and shelter of the night, for health and food, for love and friends, for everything thy goodness sends. I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new.”New friends have been so good to us in our new journey in Boston. Old friends have been so supportive of our move and new life--and we've even been able to reconnect with friends who have been passing through or staying in Boston. Family friends have been so good to us as I've been struggling with my miscarriage. So I am grateful for my friends, the old and new.
