I was really sick yesterday. The stomach bug that has been running rampant throughout the school where I teach finally latched on to me and it. was. awful. Words cannot describe just how much I HATE to throw up!

In the midst of my misery, I had the chorus of this little song that I had been singing with my students last week running through my head:

Don’t forget to be,
Don’t forget to be thankful.

Thankful?!! I was NOT feeling thankful about anything that was happening to me. However, I have learned over the years that there is always something to be thankful for in every situation. Sometimes you just have to look a little harder. What could I be thankful for in that moment?

I reminded myself that this was temporary. According to the reports of others who had been sick, this was a 24-hour bug. It was a very short-term interruption that I would easily recover from. I was not sick because I was battling a long-term, life-threatening illness. My life would return to normal within a few hours.

I was not alone. My daughter is home on break from college and was with me the entire day. She watched over me and comforted me while I was hurting. Many people endure illness completely alone. By late afternoon, my husband and other daughter had arrived home and I had three attentive nurses caring for me.

An attitude of gratitude didn’t change my circumstances. I was still quite sick. It was not fun. However, it did give me a different perspective. It enabled me to change my focus and expect a positive outcome.

Sometimes we just need to speak hope into our own situation.

I woke up this morning completely whole, healthy, and healed. I made it through the storm. I survived something that was completely out of my control. I lived to see another day.

Maybe you are going through something really difficult right now. Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed and alone. Whatever your circumstance, don’t forget to be thankful. Let the power of gratitude bring hope and peace into your life today.