What are You Grateful for This Year?

Can you be grateful even in the hard times? Share your best six-word sentence that encapsulates your gratitude for the year.

This post is part of the Five-Minute Friday quick write hosted by Kate Moutang. Join us each Thursday night on Twitter (#FMFParty) for fun and fellowship, then grab a pen and start writing when the prompt goes live!

In All Things, Give Thanks

“Thank you, Father God, for the food we are about to eat. If it’s your will, please let us make it to Reno. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

“Amen.” Pedro started the laborious process of eating. Cancer cells had frozen muscles in his face, and each bite took minutes to chew and swallow.

“Mom, Dad, and the girls should be in Reno by now,” I said.

“When do we leave?” he asked.

“When the doctors decide to let you go. Hopefully before Thanksgiving. I reserved a hotel room for us in case your blood counts are still low.”

“What about everyone else?”

“They’ll stay in my parent’s time-share. We’ll get together for Thanksgiving dinner.”

He nodded in assent. Eating, and talking took effort. “Can’t wait to see the girls.”

Tears threatened. The last time the girls had visited him, he looked like a walking skeleton. Now his face had started to fill out a bit. Each day he gained a little mobility in his face. After six months of bad news, we could use a little something joyful to celebrate.

James 1:2-3 kept me from falling into a pit of despair over Pedro’s slow journey to healing. Some days, I struggled to find any joy in our trials. But I had seen God’s mercy and blessings time and time again. I might not feel ‘pure joy’ about our trial, but I felt deep gratitude for all the miracles God had performed.

Two days later, the doctors approved Pedro’s discharge. According to all their tests and evaluations, he was in remission. We would return after Thanksgiving and start the stem-cell harvesting procedure. This time, my tears felt grateful.

Grateful for Every Blessing

If someone would have asked me to write a six-word sentence describing what I was grateful for, it would have looked like this:

“Remission confirmed, stem-cell transplant commences.”

Something about the succinct simplicity of six words packs a powerful punch. None of us has escaped trials of many kinds this year. The pandemic has thrown a pall over plans, celebrations, hopes, dreams, and wishes. But we shouldn’t let gratefulness die along with our plans.

James tells us

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4 NIV

No matter how difficult and trial-filled your year has turned out, practice gratefulness. Write a six-word statement of gratitude and share it in the comments. I’d love to see your creativity and how God has blessed you this year.