Faith and Gratitude are the two constants I carry. Even in the darkest of times, it can hold you up even if it's by a thread. This blog section I labeled "Faith & Gratitude" will contain a variety of faith and gratitude entries and I want to start my first entry with how gratitude can shift our entire mindset when it can go astray, bringing our thoughts and heart back to the miracle we are because when we get to wrapped up in the chaos or noise around us, we can forget the meaning behind this all and the "miracle" we are looking for is in fact already right in front of us- as we simply are one.
Having gratitude for this very moment, for our world no matter how crazy it can be, for the people we have around us who we love or maybe even the ones who challenge us, for all that we have, for all that we are and can do, just to TRUELY recognize all of this and express gratitude for it shows a sure sign that you are on a faithful path.
See, gratitude develops our faith. Giving praise and thanks to ALL that is even in the darkest of times, during the most painful of times and so forth can build a bridge for us to continue despite the hurt, pain, or grief our hearts may feel. Even if every step you take takes work, the gratitude we recognize just by being able to even take a single step will STRENGTHEN our faith of brighter days ahead.
I love the quote: "Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good." -Maya Angelou, poet.
Faith and Gratitude mesh and mesh beautifully if you haven't yet picked that up. Hand in hand they will change your life. Do you ever see or hear the quote/saying, "start each day with a grateful heart?" I mean this isn't just being said to just sound good, it legit has a purpose and a chain reaction if you actually start your day with a grateful heart. That quote should be taken literally. I intentionally practice and do this each day because lets be real, life happens and we get too busy or forget or don't always remember to just take it back to the basics. So setting actual intentions to start each day with a grateful heart will help you build a new habit of GRATEFULNESS. You then will start to notice yourself being more grateful even when not intentional, the more you intentionally apply it.
From this gratitude and gratefulness we bring to light, that has always been there we just had to stop and "smell the roses" so to say, blossoms the energy of FAITH! And my friends, we want our energy of faith to be STRONG because it is the only thing that is stronger than fear. Faith over fear is daring the soul to go beyond what the eye can see. I love how Corrie Ten Boom sums it up, "faith is like radar that sees through the fog." For me it's my faith in God who I know is my radar and leads me through the fog, even during times when I can feel all alone, I am not. With gratitude I show thankfulness for leading me through and through faith I get to where I am suppose to be even if nothing makes sense during the travels leading up to the destination.
My intentional/daily journey with gratitude started back in 2014. When I found out I had cancer at 14 weeks pregnant I had just started reading a book that had me intentionally practicing gratitude daily. Each day was a task and I had to physically write down 10 things I was grateful for on top of the gratitude tasks. My friends, so many asked me at the time how I was getting through this season of my life and I can whole heartedly say it was my gratitude and faith that kept me chugging along. Along with my amazingly, supportive husband of course. My perseverance was driven even more so by all that I had to be grateful for and all that would still be to come. My faith helped me see even that little flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. I was grateful.
I witnessed everything just transform right before my eyes during this seaon of my life back in 2014. Even going through something as scary as cancer, while pregnant with our first son and going through chemotherapy. Even through the darkest times with cancer, transformation was happening and I would later realize it came from my gratitude and faith. Now, do not get me wrong- I am HUMAN just like the rest of you. I had my days full of worry and fear, but what I didn't have happen was I did not let it consume me or keep me stuck. I chose to let it propel me higher- to share it, to help someone else or that possibly someone else could relate to my journey. I turned it for GOOD. Gratitude and Faith got me through then and it gets me through to this day and when I fall short of it, I feel it right away and I set my intentions back on it. Just remember it has to be an intentional thought of practice and when we do this day in and day out our life is forever changed.
My goal now is to develop a "Daily Gratitude Journal" that can help transform your life when practiced daily like it did and still does for mine. This simple, few minute practice you can do first thing in the morning, before your day starts, will help you see past all of the busyness and noise that can take over and consume us all. This practice will show you the beauty that lies right in front of you even when you feel all beauty is gone. I can't wait to offer this journal to you all.
Love to you all,
Sheila
