Gratitude Unlocks the Fullness of Life

Gratitude is an amazing gift we can give ourselves. Yet this week has proved difficult to narrow my gratitude to one thing. I began to jot a list that contained names of people and things for which I am thankful. The list grew long and choosing one item from it seemed impossible. I looked at my vision from last week, and chose something that helps to propel me out of the cave and into the field of possibilities.

I do not believe in coincidences, but rather in divine appointments. I need to remind myself to look at interruptions to my plans, unexpected meetings I need to attend, or encouragements that pop at just the right time, as divine appointments. I like to visualize an open appointment book with enough room and white space to accommodate these unexpected moments and blessings. Yet this open book does not begin to convey the warmth of many of these encounters. The encouragements, help, and affirmations can wrap around me like a warm blanket. They are only possible when I leave room in my life by being grateful, and avoiding frustration when those moments show up.

Divine appointments have brought people into my life, at just the right time. To see the full and amazing effect these have had in my life I need to look at it from a new perspective – looking back helps me realize the beauty of the encounter.

I read this quote by Melody Beattie which says,

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home and a stranger into a friend.

I love when a stranger becomes a friend. In September of 2016 a stone chip on the driver’s side windshield forced us to stop at the glass shop on our way home from an out of town trip. It appeared like a costly inconvenience of time and money, and frustration bubbled just below the surface.

The shop had enough time to fix our window before they closed for the day, which eased a bit of annoyance, though not by much. A lovely lady sat waiting for her car too. We began talking to pass the time. In the end we exchanged business cards. As she read Speaker and Author on my card, she began asking more questions about my work. She had been waiting for a writer to come into her life. Turns out she happened to be a couple hours late for her appointment that day, because she honestly thought it was supposed to be at a later time. They fit her car in as well, and as a result I met Mable.

Mable later introduced me to Adrienne at the Consciously Woman, and now I read posts by other amazing women. This once-upon-a-time stranger, whom I met at the glass shop, has become a friend through a divine appointment.

As I look back over the last few years, I notice many times where my confidence waned. I wondered if I should keep writing, or let people know I was available to speak. Just at the right moment, an affirming message arrived from an unexpected place. This fills my heart with gratitude. Now I try and remember each day to look at potential frustrations and interruptions as divine appointments or lessons to be learned.

Canadian speaker and author, Brian Tracy, says

Develop an attitude of gratitude and give thanks for everything that happens to you., knowing that every step forward is a step to achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.

Divine appointments have offered help, encouragement, and affirmation, and they have also resulted in contacts, potential clients, and mentoring opportunities. They have given me a chance to see something new, or something in a new way, or take the time to see new parts of the country. Opportunities are as massive as a field of grain ready to harvest, and for this I am so grateful.

Written by: Carol Harrison; Carol’s Corner