In my CCD class, I tell the kids to take out a index card or I rip a piece of notebook paper in half and I ask them to write down three things: The first one is required and the next two are optional.



Optional;

What are your prayer requests for the week?

What questions do you have about the faith?



Required:

What are you grateful for this week?



I push the grattitude becuase I feel that in todays world we are stressed beyond measure from one end to the next. We are either worried about doing God’s Will right or we are worried that our company will be outsourced to China and we’ll be forclosed....if that has already happened, we worry if we’ll find food for our tables and clothes for our children.

I could go on but I’m getting stressed out just thinking of it.



Grattitude makes us aware of what God has given us. Again I skip from my reading resolution to New Testiment (I should have just resoluted to read NT only I constantly go there anyways...but I digress) and I find that I’m loved and cared for just as little sparrows are..even more.



Grattitude doesn’t make us proud....It shouldn’t. It makes us aware that we are blessed no matter what the devil darts in our direction. When I was at my all time low and jumping in front of a train seemed like the only answer, I was grateful for my brother’s mom being there for me and telling me "OPEN UP YOUR BIBLE RIGHT NOW!" basically ordering me to do so. I was desperate so I was game for listening. As I did that, I calmed down a lot. I’m not saying my troubles went away..but "something" left me to feel peace and balance and God’s Love was there setting my head straight just as I appreciate my fahter here on earth does for me when I need sound advice.



I’m still working on this life. But I’m grateful for that one moment where I knew that I was wanted more than who I thought was the only one. Someone I’m glad I choose NOT to give that energy to,let alone my soul.



It’s personal. But If you have something you are so grateful for, feel free to put it. Let me give you an example of something I mean:



Goign through those index cards they write on, my sunday schoolers have put : Parents, friends, the second hand on the clock, technology, health restored to a loved one, peanut butter. The list is truly endless.



This is NOT a peeing contest as to see who’s the most blessed. As you read other’s posts, be grateful for God’s blessings and happy for them receiving them. There is NO qualifying or invalidating. Each of you have been blessed in your own special way. My hope is is that maybe when you read this....if you can’t think of anything or you are stressed beyond belief, maybe someone elses grattitude is yours and you could see it in your life as well and be grateful for it as well.



My brother has CP. He can’t walk or talk and has to have someone take care of him for just about everything under the sun. For me to complain about every ache and pain and not do anything about my life be it improving or helping to save, is a sin to me. To not be grateful for my able body and big mouth, would be asking God if this life came with a return policy or option of regifting to someone else. Bad.



I’ll leave the rest to you all. What are you grateful for?



peace, love and grace,

Nic

That is a toughy Em. It really is. Only when we DO see the benefits of say unanswered prayers, do we really see (hind sight) that God knew exactly what He was doing.



I have to remember that as I’m desperately trying to get a full time job at a university that pays for school if you work there full time. I should be grateful I guess I have the per diem job there. I do love it and my coworkers there are great to work with.



I"m sure though that God has a reason for this onset of cold weather on top of the nice stuff we’ve had. Mm Hm. Yepp-pah!!! Just being patient as I can trying to find out why. I mean those iceburgs Do need to freeze back up... . errrr

This past Saturday, I got home early from work when the sun was still up and just went over to my mail box to get the mail and head in to nap before the St. Patty’s party my friend was throwing.



Now my driveway is more like a parking lot and there’s a everso slight incline going back up towards the house door. I managed to dash my foot against the curb of the entrance of the driveway and even though I made a few noble tries to find my footing (while looking like something out of a Buster Keaton movie) I fell Knee, Hand and Face First into the pavement.



I couldn’t move I was so afraid that I cracked my knee so I stayed on the ground for quite a while moaning in agony. I really thought I broke it. The palms of my hands smarted real bad and I got a bloody nose but those were ok. I was more worried about my knee.



An older man and his grandson (looked about to be 3 or 4 years old were playing tic/tac/toe on the pavement less than 5 yards away from me. The old man came over to me and asked if I was ok. This get’s better:



He PICKED UP my mail and placed it in my purse which also splattered all about the driveway and picked up my glasses and dusted them off before giving them back to me. He asked me dozens of times if I was ok and could I get up...and Would I like help getting up. He held out his hand and being a woman of voluptiousness I declined as I didn’t want to break his back in the long run. I kept on saying I was fine and I could get up and everything was wonderful. He kept on jabberjawing away and althogh I am ashamed to say I was annoyed at him keeping at me...I was more than greatful and honestly touched that he came to my aide. I tried to smooth it off by asking his grandson if he won the tictactoe game. I think that he learned the value of what a Good Man does by having his Grandfather in his life and seeing Papa’s example as what to do. If this would have been someone of my father’s generation on down, I’d be joked at and stared at like a beached shamoo. Only when a chick looks like julia or Cameron does one go to help her the way he took the time out to help me back up. There was no promise of sexual reward or money there was just an honest Good Man stopping from his life and came to a clutz’s aide.



I was honestly touched that I cried the moment I shut the door to my apartment. The very moment I finished the sentence: "God Bless that Man."



Somedays it’s just the little things that You Men Do that make you truly Good Men and Kind People. Each of you I’m sure has a story on how you did something for someone just because You Just Did That Sort Of Thing....Because That’s What You DO. It’s the Right thing to Do and You have done it. Even if some of us can’t say it or wont for whatever reason, I want you to know that we DO appreciate your Thoughtful Kindness and Your Genuine Sincere Deeds.



Thank you to that man. May God Bless Him With Steady Feet Always and Blessings Where He Needs Them.



And God Bless All You Guys here on the Forums, who Have Gone Beyond Social Protocol and Image to Help Someone Just to Help Them....Becuase you Know That’s What You DO.



To the Good Men! SALUTE!



-Nic/xoxo

....and I’m grateful to have you read them, darlin.







Seriously folks, This thread is something for you to post something positive and share your grattitude. Do you mean to tell me that we’re more hyped up on the drama on catholic bashing and religious debates that we can’t share what we’re grateful for? Everyone’s got to have Something to be thankful that God gave them. Do you mean to tell me that you’re Not grateful? I’ll still hold on to the other thought and just be patient.



peace&love,

Nic

Sally, for you staying married for 42 years, Bless You More!!! That’s a record nowadays! My godchild to be was born April 6th. This year is especially important to her since she’s getting baptized on easter which is only a week after her bday. I’m so excited. I’m so grateful to have her in this too. She loves sunday school and she’s so smart. Its’ scary.



Ok, I have to. I ask my patients at work who are married three questions:



1. How did you meet (this tells me what a matchmaker God is and I love those stories)

2. How did he propose. (or you. I’ve heard girls do it)

3. What do you think it takes for women and men of my generation to do to make a marraige last?

Anyone want to post here? It’s still open! Dont be shy. Be Grateful.

My wife had a cataract removed from her eye yesterday and she came through it fine. and we both woke up today to a glorious day of the Lord’s making. Thank you Lord.



   david

Mw, what is your profession? Maybe some of us may have some ideas to better your life. Isn’t that what we are here for?



dajcat

The chicken recipe I pulled from the internet. No asparagus just chicken in sauce of apricots, spring onions, chili peppers and white wine.

I do hope your mom has a wonderful birthday.

Good luck on your search for better employment. I have an interview Wednesday with the local Child Support Services office for a position as Staff Services Analyst. It would be good to get. Well-paying and only eight miles from home(I formerly had an eighty-four mile round trip daily).

Gratitude is a great key to keep handy. Thank you for helping me remember that.

I do pray you get that job you mentioned it sounds so much more worthy of your credentials and with the state of the economy and peoples nerves you are needed.



Nic thank you, I pray also that you get that job. God never closes one door that he doesn’t open another for you if you stay true to Him. It may not be instant but it will come. i say the same to youMw.



david