This past Sunday, a man spoke in our church services, bearing his testimony of Christ. He was "plain of speech," his words simple, direct, and to the point. They touched my heart, perhaps because they were simple and direct.
I, too, am plain of speech. I have no fancy words and, occasionally, yearn for the gift of lyrical prose that some writers achieve seemingly effortlessly.
As I pondered this yearning, I realized that I am being ungrateful to my Heavenly Father when I wish I were different from what I am. Why can't I appreciate the gifts I have been given and stop coveting those of others? The answer is, of course, that I am weak and all too human. I want what I don't have and fail to appreciate what I do.
That, among other things, is the reason I started "The Gratitude Project," to remind myself of the blessings I have been given. Could I find things in myself to appreciate? The short answer is, "It depends on the day."
On any given day, I can believe that I have something to contribute. By the following day, I am equally convinced that I have nothing whatsoever to share. What makes the difference? Could it be that on the first day, I am looking outside myself, searching for ways to help others?
Maybe. Probably.
So, for today, I am grateful for those days when I remember to look beyond myself.
You have whole days like that? Wow, you're doing really well!
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