gratitude in a pandemic

It’s been a hell of a year, right? (Or should I say nearly two now—can you believe it?!)  I’m pretty sure that at the start of 2020 none of us thought to ourselves, “I wonder if we’ll get hit with a global pandemic this year that’ll stagger the economy, isolate us from our loved ones for months, and cause us to wear masks everywhere and hoard rolls of toilet paper because they’ll be sold out at Costco…” 

 
It’s easy in some ways to look back and make jokes (and we almost have to for our own sanity these days), but in all seriousness this whole experience has been terribly hard.  I know so many folks have lost their jobs and their homes.  I know many of us have struggled with fear, loneliness, and general fatigue.  I’ve literally sat in hospital ICU rooms with people who had to make decisions about taking their loved ones off of ventilators due to COVID-related illness and complications—not to mention the other hundreds of thousands who got sick but made it through.    
 
I think this must be why there’s so many psalms of lament in the Bible.  God knows we need to rage and question and cry sometimes.
 
And yet, we’ve returned once again to a season of Thanksgiving.  What has that been like for you this year?  Difficult, I imagine.  But perhaps in some ways more meaningful…?  It certainly has for me.
 
A year or so ago, a pastor friend of mine challenged his congregation to make a regular practice of gratitude.  It’s something Scripture encourages over and over:
 

“Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.” -Psalm 30:4

 

“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” -Psalm 136:1

 

“…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18

 
Not to mention, if you do an online search for “the science of gratitude,” you’ll find that dozens of institutions have researched how the practice of gratitude contributes physically and emotionally to the well-being of our lives.
 
So, taking that to heart, I started making a semi-regular habit of journaling about what I’m grateful for.  As it turns out, there has been a lot in this past year.  In the spirit of fostering collective gratitude as much as collective grief, I wanted to share a few that I’ve written down:

• For my husband… he is the best human and companion I could ever ask for (11.9.20)
• For the people who are doing the hard work for racial justice (11.12.20)
• For heaters that allow us to do safe family dinners outside in Jen and Ty’s carport (11.13.20)
• For opportunities to preach at MOPC and in Richfield (11.18.20)
• For Matt bringing me coffee in bed (12.8.20)
• For getting my first COVID vaccine shot! (1.6.21)
• For warmth and a safe place to live (2.17.21)
• For my parents and the ways they love me and my siblings (2.19.21)
• For my CPE group and all the insights and wisdom that come out of our time together (3.3.21)
• That I am learning to accept limits and boundaries, to have grace, to be vulnerable and genuine, to listen well and not always “fix” but sit compassionately with pain… even my own (3.31.21)
• For hugs from my dad and laughs with Jess all weekend (4.26.21)
• For a walk with the dogs yesterday with Karina and Sher (5.30.21)
• For my amazing job at FPC and all the great people there (7.23.21)
• For the friends we have and the ones we have yet to make (7.27.21)
• For our D&D group and having other adults in the world who love to just PLAY (8.20.21)
• For the peace that comes with trusting God and knowing that where I am in this moment is exactly where I’m supposed to be (8.30.21)
• That Matt and I have enjoyed 9 wonderful years of marriage! (9.23.21)
• For fall weather and yellow leaves (10.29.21)
• For the love of God and all the ways he blesses my life with gifts—seen and unseen (11.30.21)

There have been many, many more… and it’s good for my soul to look over them from time to time.  It reminds me that even in the stress of the last twenty-one months, God is still present and giving me many reasons for joy.  I hope you’ve found that to be true as well!
 
I’d love to hear what you’re season of Thanksgiving has been like as well.  What are you grateful for this year?