Thank you for subscribing-may these words bring a quiet moment of peace and reflection to your day.

Backstory:
During a recent therapy session, we talked about the importance of gratitude in both our mental and physical well-being. As we talked, my thoughts immediately turned to my own journey with chronic illness. My symptoms are never far from my mind, yet I've learned that gratitude doesn't require perfect circumstances. Even on my hardest days, I can thank God for simple blessings, for the strength to keep going, and for knowing I never face my struggles alone. My Heavenly Father knows exactly how I feel, and my Savior understands every pain, every moment of fatigue, and every feeling of discouragement because He experienced it all for us. Gratitude hasn't taken away my trials, but it has carried me through them, reminding me that one day every burden will be made right through Jesus Christ.

Choosing Gratitude

My alarm goes off and I open my eyes,
Then I hang my feet over my bed and I slowly rise.
This day may be hard because of my chronic illness,
But I choose to give thanks to my Father in the stillness.

My body doesn’t let me do all the things I want to do,
And I could choose to let my mind and heart be blue.
Some days I feel discouragement creep inside of  me 
Because on those days, my blessings are harder to see.

Yes, I’m human, and sometimes I stray 
Because my life is difficult and the skies feel gray.
But the sun always rises to bring me peace, 
And I watch the shadows of the morning cease. 

So I try to count my blessings from my Father above
That He pours down on me with His enduring love.
Even when the storm winds begin to blow, 
I can look for the light that He sends below. 

My illness may shape my days,
But gratitude shapes my heart in praise.
There is always hope for another day
And I can feel the love of my Father when I pray.

The Takeaway: Gratitude doesn't deny our pain—it reminds us that God's blessings are present even in the middle of it. When we choose to notice His goodness, we often find the strength to keep taking the next step. And because of Jesus Christ, we can be grateful not only for today's blessings but also for the perfect healing and eternal hope that await all who trust in Him. 

Watch my YouTube short on this topic here: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/347416u3gjk

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