That quote reminds me of Zak and Katrina. They didn’t listen to the world say, “It doesn’t make sense.” They wanted an adventure, and they are living it. I am grateful for their example. I am grateful for Bob Goff’s lessons to DO and not just talk about it. I am grateful for the people in my life who, by their example, show me a better way. I don’t want to just talk about doing, I don’t want to talk about making plans. I want to be the person that is spontaneous and steps out of my comfort zone. No ruts. No complacency.

I am grateful for this mouthwash, because it makes everything taste bad for several hours, so I do not want to eat. But it DOES make a mouth fresh and hopefully a little healthier, and for that I am also grateful.

I am grateful for my boss who taught a very valuable lesson about owning a mistake and a bad attitude and sincerely apologizing, all for the sake of reconciliation in the family.

I am grateful for my church devotion this morning about reconciliation and for a new beginning with my daughter.

Tuesday’s Church Devotion

I am grateful for a chapter in my book that hit home. I find myself being very selfish at times, thinking that I am owed a humble apology. But Jesus forgave me BEFORE I asked. I may never get those apologies. That’s not the point. I can only control my end. And in order for me to truly be at peace, I must forgive without reservation, without expectation. I must do as Joseph did and begin the act of forgiveness and live in the space of grace, the doorway to reconciliation. I am so grateful for the peace in my heart.

Forgiveness vacillates like this. It has fits and starts, good days and bad. Anger intermingled with love. Irregular mercy. We make progress only to make a wrong turn. Step forward and fall back. But this is okay. When it comes to forgiveness, all of us are beginners. No one owns a secret formula. As long as you are trying to forgive, you are forgiving. It’s when you no longer try that bitterness sets in.

Stay the course. You’ll spend less time in the spite house and more in the grace house. And as one who has walked the hallways of both, I can guarantee that you are going to love the space of grace. – Max Lucado, “You’ll Get Through This”

I am grateful for little things that make me happy, like minions and the “happy” song:

Because I’m Happy!

I am grateful for this beautiful surprise in my inbox this morning that also makes me very happy:

Annistan laughs.

And this beautiful surprise in a text message last night:

 Sweet Reilly Joy.

And I am grateful for the security I feel in knowing that when I die, I will leave something monetary for those I love. I see now why it was so important to Mom and Dad to have things in place. Mom talked about having such peace about getting their affairs in order. I get it now. It is a good feeling to have life insurance that I set up by myself to take care of my family. Hopefully, they will be proud of the person I became, the example I set, and see that what mattered most was following Jesus without abandon and pointing my “world” towards Him.