My Name Spells Gratitude

The gals & pals are at it again, with a GREAT F-5 this week... A wise person once told me to make an ABC list of things I am grateful for any time I feel sad or depressed. It is a good practice when one is feeling happier than that, too. So for this Friday Five, I suggest that you use your name or nickname of about five letters and express your gratitude about something that starts with each letter. Some people have longer names, so you decide how you will go about this! (Last names, middle names, and nicknames count!)

First of all, I’m exceptionally grateful to the poster of today’s Friday Five—I need this gratitude practice right now. My congregation has been hit by 6 deaths in the last few months—very active and beloved members all—and we have the prospect of several more in the very near future. Today I received a call that one more, very active, very beloved person is actively and unexpectedly dying. I am very, very sad. So I sit down to share gratitude in the midst of this sadness.

S      spirit—I am eternally grateful that the Spirit is present with me

H          health—I give thanks that I have bodily and mental strength right now

A      artistry—my inner poet finds consolation, joy and prayer in the writing process

R      relationship—always, always Jamie is on my gratitude list

O     ordinary—I'm grateful for all the ordinary things that bring me delight (like the obnoxious choke weed that I find so beautiful, and the smell of the road after a hard rain)

N         neighbors—the sermon I’m currently working on highlights one of my neighbors; they're such an unexpected blessing in my life