An Adventure in Gratitude

If everything always turned out the way we planned, where would the adventure be?  Our own plans are perfect, predictable, happy. If life was always that way, could we learn to be happy with the unexpected, with the unpleasant and imperfect?  No way, and that's why life doesn't always go as planned.

Is there ever a good time for Mom to be sick?  Really?  Kids still need to eat breakfast, go to school, be run to activities.  They still need to be reminded and disciplined and loved.  There is never a good time to be sick, so why not now?  As I've thought about having cancer at this time in my life I've come to the conclusion that maybe right now is the perfect time to have it.  I have 5 beautiful reasons to get out of bed each morning.  I have 5 beautiful reasons to forget myself and go to work.  

"We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is.  How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?"

President Uchtdorf

I can't afford to wait for cancer to be gone to enjoy being a mother.  I can't afford to wait for cancer to be gone to love my husband.  I can't afford to wait for cancer to be over to be happy, to enjoy my summer, to read a book, work on my hobby.  My kids are growing up way too fast, I can't afford to wait until cancer's over to enjoy my kiddos.  I want to be their mother and cancer has reminded me how fragile life is.  How important it is to enjoy the moment.  

"Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley

I loved President Uchtdorf's talk in the last General Conference, "Grateful in Any Circumstances"  He reminds us in a beautiful way the importance of being grateful.  "It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God.  But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace and understanding."  He suggests that being grateful for blessings is important, but we should not make gratitude contingent on that.  Gratitude should be an overall spirit or attitude.  "I don't believe that the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease."

"Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances.  It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges.  This is not a gratitude of the lips, but of the soul."

"True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony.  Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God."

Even when days are hard, we can look at our lives and find things to be grateful for.  We can't afford to wait for life to be perfect to be grateful.  Life will never be perfect, and we would never feel grateful.

Today I am grateful for:
1.  My handsome and loving husband.
2.  My 4 beautiful and healthy children.  For their energy, their hugs and their NAP time!
3.  The sunshine and my flowers.
4.  Running water and a warm shower.
5.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
6.  That I am HERE, I want to be their mother and his wife.  No matter the challenge that brings, I am happy that I am doing this, not someone else.
7.  That I feel well enough to do laundry, to go on a walk.

What a beautiful world it would be if we could all see the Adventure that life presents and be grateful!