via Daily Prompt: Bottle

I had a lesson in gratitude this weekend. It is easy to get caught up in our own personal lives and get annoyed and frustrated with our own situations that we lose sight of the bigger picture.

I struggle with being grateful for the blessings I have in my life.

I can walk.

I can breathe on my own.

I can dress and feed myself. 

I can take showers and care for myself independently. 

I can drive myself to and from work. 

I have a job.

I have a job and bosses that are understanding and caring.

I have a family that loves me and helps me in any and every situation.

I take these things for granted.

I am quick to focus on the things I don’t have.. and the bitterness that is in me because I believe these things are missing.

The truth is. Life is truly what you make it. We can keep our bitterness and hurts and fears bottled up and get stuck in them, or we can choose to deal with the pain and the hurt, move forward and impact our world for good.

I am not dismissing the painful or hurtful, traumatic and horrifying things that happen to us and those around us in life. These things are very real and happening.

What I am saying is that what we do with those pains, hurts and fears is the determining factor on whether we experience freedom or suffering. 

I can’t tell you enough how grateful I am becoming that the lie that I do not deserve good things, I am defective , and have nothing to offer is being continually and violently torn down. The walls are crashing and I am thankful. It is painful and hurts at times. But Joy comes in the morning.

Dear one, Let me be the first to tell you that dealing with your pain right now is so much more freeing than keeping it to yourself. Step out. You’ll be glad you did. The door is open. Take your first step. You can do it.

 

Be encouraged,

 

Rachael