Being Thankful for Life’s Challenges

I realize that we sometimes get so caught up we cuss when we face some of life’s challenges. Even the smallest thing can sometimes get our goat. Today, I’m resolving to be grateful for life’s challenges for many reasons.

Challenges help me garner experience; if I made a bad decision once, when faced with the same situation in the future, it is unlikely that I will make the same mistake again. There is more than a little truth to the old adage experience teaches wisdom.

While I know that many people have lost their jobs and it has caused all sorts of financial challenges, I know more than a few for whom being fired has been a blessing in disguise. Just recently, a young woman I know with four kids to take care lost her job. I was worrying about her, even though I knew she didn't like the job she had. A few weeks later, she landed another job, but even better, she was earning almost two-times what she was before. Others have taken the loss of a job as a sign to reinvent themselves or to do something that they always wanted to do.

Sometimes, a bad experience we have makes it possible for us to one day help someone who faces a similar challenge. When I talk to others, I realize that I would much rather be dealing with the issues that I have than the ones they are facing. Yes, I may not have the funds I need to do something to my house, but some people do not have anywhere to live.

Thankfulness doesn't always mean being grateful for the blessings and good things in life. Plus, there are some healthy benefits to being thankful, so why spend time worrying and being resentful about the curve balls life throws at you. I normally try to write down the things I’m grateful for at the end of each week. When I looked back, I realized I was always writing down the nice things, the positive things – but now I also need to make note of the not so nice things as well.

Focusing my energies on the things that are wrong or on what I do not have will drain me. If I’m left too tired to focus on what really matters or just being grateful for the good things, I will not have the energy to work on getting things right.

1 Thessalonians 5:18: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Getting Upset Is Natural – Isn’t It?

Anger “ Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean .” Maya Angelou I must confess that sometimes I blow off steam by getting upset. I will allow things to build up and then when I feel overwhelmed, I explode for the simplest thing. There was a time when I used to feel really bad when I got upset, but I’m beginning to learn that it is good to let off steam, sometimes. Anger can be positive and I know that after I calm down I tend to see things differently. I actually make an effort to see what I can change about the situation that upset me in the first place. While anger can also be disruptive and can cause hurt, it can be used for good. In fact, anger tends to motivate me to work harder and to achieve my goals. I know that I can be hard on myself – feeling that I fail if I do not live up to my own expectations. I know that unbridled anger can have negative health effects, but so can holding anger in. I remember reading abo...

Jamaica Public Service, Again

I’m so angry I could scream. I received my electricity bill from the Jamaica Public Service Company and once again the amount is staggering…a whopping five thousand plus dollars. This is just a measly $174 less than the previous month. The funniest part of it is the following: - I foolishly put in fluorescent bulbs since they claim that it lowers usage. - During the period billed we had 9 1/2 hours of power outages. Granted this is an estimate because it just covers the period when someone was home and was able to record the outage time. I knew there were outages when no one is home because I have an old fashion fax machine that spits out pieces of paper each time the power goes and returns. - We rarely leave an outside light on anymore So my question to JPS is: What am I to do to have my electricity bills at a reasonable rate? In the past two years my bill has jumped quite a lot. I really would love to know why this is happening. Sadly, consumers in Jamaica do not have much recour...

Cheri said…

It's a very good point. To one of your examples, I lost my job earlier this year, and I was truly devastated. I still worry about the loss of income, but I am grateful for the fact that we can *survive* on one salary. I am also grateful for the opportunity to return to school, which I would never have been able to do had I remained at my place of employment. Sometimes clouds really do have a silver lining.

7:16 PM

Jessica McCurdy Crooks said…

Hi Cheri,

I have found as I go along life's path that the sun does come out tomorrow. Glad you are doing something you wanted to do.

9:09 PM

“Blooming from Brokenness: One Woman’s Rise from Despair to Divine Purpose”

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