I am grateful for temperatures above freezing today.

I have issues. For some reason, I have a hard time with anyone who pronounces words incorrectly, especially if the person is a fairly intelligent human being who is college-educated. It is my opinion that they most likely do not read very much. I don’t know why I think that.  But it made me grateful today that I read, like to read, and like to learn new things by reading a variety of subjects.

I am grateful that my Dad enjoys reading and we have that in common.

I am grateful for a wonderful night of Bingo with our assisted living friends. For the first time, Jim played Bingo. It only took nine months.

I am grateful for adults who laugh.

I am grateful for rock bottom. “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…”

I am also grateful today that I am in a new career. I spent my lunch hour with four 8^th grade girls in a middle school cafeteria, and the stressful feelings came pouring back in that I used to feel every day. Don’t get me wrong – I love being around the kids, but I do not miss the stress of the noise, the subtle misbehavior and smart remarks, the hormones raging, the judgmental glares and stares between students and teachers, and the chaos.

With all of that typed out, I am very grateful for my friend, Abbie. I am grateful that she has allowed me to have a teeny tiny part of her life. I am grateful that I will get to hear her sing tomorrow night at her school choir concert.

I am grateful for icicles.

I am grateful that in the midst of potential depression and despair, I can still put one foot in front of the other and find an abundance of reasons to smile and be grateful. From my Max Lucado book:  

“You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don’t be foolish or naïve. But don’t despair either. With God’s help you will get through this.”