Thoughts on Gratitude

In a recent Quiet Time (morning devotion) I read in Micah 7:18 that God delights in showing mercy. I was able to thank God for that truth, but it also made me question myself about the things that bring me delight. So I started to assemble a gratitude list. It was easy at first but then got harder once I was past the obvious things. Some of what I came up with are listed below (along with a few new thoughts as I wrote this article).

God’s gift of salvation for me

God’s gift of salvation for my husband

God’s gift of one daughter’s recent prayer to accept Christ as her Savior

God’s gift that our other daughter has accepted Christ as her Savior

God’s gift of His Word

God’s Holy Spirit’s workings in my life

The peace we can have through Christ

The hope we have because of Christ

God’s forgiveness of my transgressions

God’s mercy toward me

Having the husband that I do

Having the children that I do

Having a specific friend for over 35 years

Having a God-believing church in my own neighborhood to attend

Having income to support us

Having children who are or will be college graduates

For my AA friends

For my AA sponsor

For my therapist who happens to be a Christian

For the adventures that come from trusting God

God’s sustenance when I’m feeling low

For the promise given to Abraham that also applies to us

For answered prayer

For the talents and skills He’s given me

That my God is an all-powerful God

That my God is an all-knowing God

That my God is an ever-present God

For the vehicles we have to drive

For the house we live in

For the computers I use to write this blog (and other things)

For Christian friends near and far

For the woman who originally shared the gospel with me

For my college degrees and education

For my illnesses that keep me humble

For wise doctors that aid in my care

For successful surgeries (hands, back, C-section, eyes)

There are many more but right now I’m done writing them down. Maybe some of the things I’m grateful for sparked some gratitude of your own. Remember to thank God each day.

No Spiritual Vacations

Going on vacation doesn’t mean we can take a vacation from our spiritual lives. We must, in order to stay sober, sane, and have right thinking, continue to observe the routines that encourage our spiritual growth. That takes some planning. It won’t happen if we don’t plan for it. I was reminded recently of a few things that will help me stay on course in my spiritual life while on vacation.

I was reminded that there are AA meetings everywhere I could possibly plan a vacation destination. I was encouraged to look up meetings in advance for the locations I will be visiting and take that information with me. Sometimes meetings are exactly what I need to get my mindset back on the things that are most important in my life. I need to be prepared to go to a meeting if it seems things are getting out of control. It will be a one-hour reprieve and probably (it usually does) get my thinking back to what God wants and desires for my life. So, I looked up meetings and I’m prepared, if I need or want them.

I was also reminded that I can’t afford to take a break from my spiritual disciplines of literature reading, Bible reading, praising God, praying for my kids, and journaling. Those items in my daily routine keep me on a spiritually level path. They can prevent me from having an unhealthy view of myself, of God, of other people. They also help me keep out of my own head – a neighborhood that I shouldn’t go into alone. I must, at the very least, take God with me when I start to think. The only way I know to do that is by doing my reading in the morning. I can’t forget my materials at home and expect to have a spiritually level and emotionally regulated vacation.

I was reminded that in this day and age of technology, I never have to be alone on my vacation. Cell phones generally operate with free long distance calling so I can call someone if I need to talk and clear my head. I can call my therapist, my sponsor, my husband, a friend in the program, or another friend. I was also reminded that there’s a feature on the cell phone called texting. I can pretty much do that anytime and in anyplace to anyone who has a cell phone.

With all these plans in place, I can go on vacation and be reasonably assured that I will not need or want a drink, have a mental meltdown, or spiral into an emotional blow up. I can and must take all my spiritual disciplines with me wherever and whenever I go. This summer is not any different. A happy vacation, with good memories, starts with planning to maintain my spiritual fitness.