Gratitude When We Are Faced with Tragedy
On Wednesdays this month, Iโm making a point of addressing having gratitude even when it is difficult to do so. Weeks ago I planned out what I was going to post every day in November, and today I had planned to talk about having gratitude when we are faced with tragedy. This isnโt exactly a light and easy topic to begin with, but then, just a couple of days ago, some of my dear friends were faced with tragedy. I donโt know that theyโll even read this post, but I still wondered if I should change the topic. I didnโt want to seem insensitive or trite.
But the more I thought about it, the more I knew I should keep to the plan. God knew what would be happening this week. And the truth is, there are many, many people who are facing tragedies this week and in all the weeks to come. This is a really difficult fact of life, and rarely are we prepared to face it.
The thing about gratitude–deep, deep gratitude, not in-passing thanks–is that it is rooted and cultivated even through difficult seasons. Weโve been talking about the idea that gratitude can actually be a discipline, and times of tragedy have a tendency to reveal who we truly are and what we believe, really putting this discipline to the test. I am NOT saying that we should be happy and carefree when tragedy strikes, but our core values are what hold us steady in the storms, and gratitude can be one of those values. We donโt have to be grateful FOR tragedy, but we can be grateful THROUGH tragedy.
Parents, letโs help ourselves and our children learn to be disciplined in gratitude even when itโs hard. If we have lost a loved one, yes, letโs mourn and certainly acknowledge our sadness, confusion, and/or anger, but letโs also be intentional about looking for those areas for which we can be grateful. That might be reflecting on the loved oneโs life and influence, finding our own faith deepening, or even seeing some positive things come about even through the hardship. It isnโt an easy process, but it can be a really good one.
If youโre willing, I would love to hear your own stories you can share on this topic.
