What Are You Thankful For?نموونە

On March 19, 2020, it felt like the world came to a screeching halt. Amidst a mysterious virus that was making its way across the whole world, my city (like many others globally) was shut down. Life as we knew changed instantly. There was no indication that things would ever be “normal” again.

Being an eternal optimist, I found myself asking, “Can anything good come out of COVID?”

After much thought, I have concluded that great things CAN come out of this pandemic (this is not in any way meant to trivialize the devastating impact it has had on many families). 

Romans 8:28 (NIV), says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  

To me, “ALL things work together” means that even in the bad, there can be good.

Here are three things I am thankful for in the midst of this pandemic:

1. The ability to spend more time with my family. For years, I would often be gone before my sons were awake, only to come home just before bedtime or after they were asleep. The pandemic has brought us even closer than we already were and allowed us to understand ourselves better. We do more things together, and have many discussions and moments of intense laughter. I thank God for my family.

2. Being stuck at home has rekindled a love for the outdoors, and as such my husband and I go walking almost every day. This in turn allows us to reap major health benefits. Although I knew walking was a great exercise, I found it boring and it felt like a chore before the pandemic. Now, I look forward to the adventure that comes from our walks, and I am in better shape! I thank God for our life and health.

3. The chance to reflect on and appreciate the things that really matter in life. I learned to let go of some non-essential things and hold on to the essentials. I took a leap I had been wanting to take but had been afraid to. The pandemic served as a reminder that tomorrow is not guaranteed, so we need to purposefully pursue our dreams and goals while we can. I thank God for the grace to pursue dreams and achieve goals.

While I want this pandemic to come to an end, and never rear its face again, I am grateful for the good things that have come out of it. 

How about you? What good has come out of this season for you? Take a moment and write at least three things you are grateful for amid this pandemic. Give thanks to God!