Life can be hard. It can get complicated and many times things do not go in our favor.  Life can be full of disappointments…if we continually look for them.  The question becomes: do you look for the disappointments or look for the blessings in life?

Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy.  We find or get out of life just what we are looking for. If we are looking for blessings, we will find them.  If we are looking for disappointments, we will find them as well.

A few years ago, I traveled 90% of the time for a job that I truly enjoyed.  I left home every Monday morning, and returned home Thursday evening. I followed this routine for about 3 ½ years.  

The Sad Story

It was during the last year of this routine that this sad story happened.  Molly, our 9-year-old Chocolate lab, became VERY sick one Friday morning.  We knew that she had not been feeling well and had taken her for several vet visits, but the tests did not reveal the real cause or the severity of the issue.  So, on that Friday morning, Molly’s body began to shut down.  I was able to get her to the vet hospital and Steve got there so we could give her one last hug together.  It was a hard morning, and I will spare you all the terrible details of her decline.  

The Blessings

Now, 8 years later, I remember all of the blessings of that day.  Molly waited until Friday to decline.  I was able to be there with her and comfort her.  Another one of the many blessings was that Steve arrived at the vet hospital in time to hug her and say his goodbyes.  I am so grateful that on that terrible morning, we received so many blessings. 

I was talking to my dear friend last week.  She is a professional mom and wife with two elementary aged children.  Her husband just found a new job and she was sharing all of the schedule changes, readjustments and new responsibilities they were dealing with as a family.  In the middle of these changes and stress, there was a COVID scare they had to deal with. 

As she shared her story, instead of concentrating on the uncomfortable readjustments, she shared the blessings that happened to her family.  During this challenging time, she found so many blessings to be thankful for. 

What do you see and remember in life?  Do you look for the blessings? During some of your hardest times, have you been able to find the silver linings or blessings that are part of the story? 

For another story about blessings please read Failures Can Be a Blessing.