Cultivating Thankfulness

Walking from the car to my house and up three flights of stairs to my kitchen with my arms full of grocery bags.

Carrying a full laundry basket from the attic to the basement and then back up again.

Bickering children on repeat.

A dirty bathroom.

A cold living room.

Strep throat.

I've learned to be thankful even in these things. As I hurry to the house with my fingers growing numb from the bags full of milk and canned foods and heavy meats, I thank God that I can walk. I thank Him that the back pain that I occasionally suffer from is gone. I thank Him for strong legs and arms to do the work. When the kids are on my last nerve, I thank God that I have them at all. When the housework seems overwhelming and I couldn't want to clean it any less than I do, I thank God for a home. And a roof over our head. And a warm bed to sleep in. When I am sick, I recall the blessing of health.

I say it out loud. I say it in my head. I thank Him.

Because it could be so much worse.