A Heart of Gratitude

My favorite author,听Charles Dickens, once wrote, 鈥Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many 鈥 not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.鈥澨When I reflect听the past year听it鈥檚 so hard to听remember听the blessing听before the misfortune.听We听finished听the听2020 spring semester听in听a whirlwind of听disappointment.听As Proverbs aptly states,听鈥淗ope deferred听maketh听the heart sick鈥 (13:12).听Yet, in that disappointment,听God听was gracious听and听began to听lead me to truth and plant seeds of听thankfulness in my heart.听

The听disruption of normal life听helped me to be听grateful for听small听gifts from my听heavenly听Father.听A听good cup of coffee, a conversation with a friend, precious minutes听for听my devotions, or听an afternoon听in the sunshine became the highlights of each day. My friendships grew far more precious. The scarcity of faces caused me to value ones I did see. Going out or having people in were both luxuries I craved and valued more than ever before.听

I treasured newfound time to keep a personal journal and now benefit from re-reading those daily entries from the spring. The challenges of my life during that time mirror the challenges of today, but I can remember my God鈥檚 daily faithfulness clearly because of the journal. 听

Before the pandemic, these things were normal, unimportant. But when the world is not normal, normal things are special.听It took a sudden halting听of听my fast-paced life for me to see听that听God had听blessed听me in simple ways.听In fact,听God has听filled my life with blessings.听Though abnormality is slowly retreating from my life, the beauty听of simplicity remains.听听

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Author Bio

Lucie Drinkwater (鈥20) studied Biblical Counseling and is now working on her Masters of Education. Originally from Maine, she currently lives in Watertown and has enjoyed working for MBU for two years, first as a Dorm Supervisor, and now as an Applicant Advisor in the Admissions office.听 This article first appeared in the Fall 2020 海角原创 Advantage.