None Of Us Asked To Be Here

Life Isn’t Fair So Be Grateful

The arguments between a parent and a teenager usually begin when a parent has to utter the ugly two-letter word ‘no’. It’s a word that can cause epic meltdowns and incite war within a home. Then the conversations go something like this:

Parent: You should be grateful for what you have.

Teen: I didn’t ask to be born.

None of us asked to be here. Life is not fair. When I look up at the sky and see clouds looming above that can quickly turn from white puffy animal shapes to thundering dark gray monsters shooting down piercing lightning rods, I am reminded of how little control that we have.

That is why it is important to be grateful for what we can control. I know life is not fair but people can be when the power is within their hands.

So when it comes to life we have a choice to be grateful or resentful. Gratitude heals. Wallowing in self-pity because life is not fair is toxic.

We didn’t ask to be here but we’re here. The alternative now that we are here is enough to make you soil your britches.

What Is Gratitude?

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. It is easy to be thankful when things go your way.

You’re hired.

Congratulations, it’s a boy.

She said yes.

Here are the keys to your new home.

When all is well with our lives it is easy to hop on the gratitude train. The experts say to keep a gratitude journal. When you are excited about tomorrow and life is going well then it is easy to jot down a list of things to be grateful for.

What happens when the stormy season roars in and life starts pelting you with golf size balls of hail? What happens when lightning strikes and your world is suddenly on fire?

You’re fired.

The baby isn’t going to make it.

It’s over.

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What happens when the s*!$ hits the fan? Will you be able to jot down all those wonderful things to be grateful for?

The answer should be yes.

#1 Gratitude Practice

Giving is the most important aspect of gratitude.

Matthew 6:19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. 20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. 21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

When we give we shift the focus from what we do not have. It solidifies that we have is more than enough and helping others gives us a sense of purpose.

It is fun to bask in the glow of gratefulness when life is pouring you sweet lemonade and it is the best resilience tool to pull out when life serves you a big slice of humble pie.