gratitude instead

I've been chafing a lot lately when I hear people say that they've been "blessed" to be in the situation they're in, or "blessed" to have a well-behaved child, or "blessed" to have a job that pays 6 figures.

I'm not trying to be difficult, but there's something about this that is getting under my skin lately.

It smacks of this insinuation that those who DON'T have what those folks have are NOT blessed. Those who have miscarried instead of carrying children to term are not blessed; those whose children have behavior disorders or are simply unruly are not blessed; those who have chosen a career or a calling that will never earn them a 6-figure salary are not blessed; those who live in a tiny 2-bedroom apartment instead of a 6-bedroom super-gigundo mansion are not blessed.

Perhaps I exaggerate. But you get the point.

Even with smaller things, like the ability to run a successful grief center (I just visited one yesterday and the director used this "blessed" phrasing), or who get a small promotion, and call themselves "blessed," make it difficult for me.

I think perhaps people are using this "blessed" phrasing to make sure they acknowledge God's role in their lives instead of saying that they're "lucky," which implies some frivolous bestowing of fortune by the universe instead of a benevolent God, perhaps.

But I was thinking that perhaps what I would like to hear best of all, and what I will hold myself accountable to say when even I would be tempted to let that phrase "blessed" slip from my lips, is "I'm grateful for..."

I'm grateful for my children.

I'm grateful for my home.

I'm grateful for my call to ministry at the church I'm serving.

I'm grateful that I have steady income and that my husband has a good job.

Yes, perhaps all of those things are also blessings, but I would like to talk about gratitude instead.

It's just something I've been thinking about.

spending time with the aged (otherwise known as a morning in a nursing home)

During this month of April (and the first Monday in May), I volunteered (WHAT WAS I THINKING?) to provide devotions at one of our area retirement communities, for the assisted living folks at 9 a.m. (again--WHAT WAS I THINKING? Did I not realize this would also involve the day after Easter? Yikes.) and the Alzheimer's/dementia unit at 10:30 a.m. Then I am the "Chaplain On Call" until noon.

Actually, all of those "WHAT WAS I THINKING"s are a bit over-the-top. It was a very nice, and even quite Zen kind of morning. Granted, I don't think I'd be able to be a nurse there, but it was very helpful to be there in my capacity this morning.

Devotions consist of singing a hymn, sharing a story or meditation, prayer, and another song. Oh, and the assisted living folks need to be done at 9:20 so they can get to Bingo PROMPTLY at 9:30!

All joking aside, one of the aspects of my job that I truly do love is the time spent with the aged. It provides me with perspective that I might not otherwise have. It provides me with a long view that I might not otherwise have.

I don't have biological grandparents anymore (a fact that was received with shock by just such a one as a 91 (and A HALF) year-old member last week); if I didn't spend time in church with older folks, I might not encounter them much in my life.

It's easy to get wrapped up in a warp-speed, everything-is-important-RIGHT-NOW! kind of lifestyle, but spending time with those who are older can put it in perspective.

Sure, they can be grumpy, itchy, complainy, and crotchety, but they can also describe what they've lived through: their ups and downs, their striving and failures, the tragedies they've encountered and still forged ahead.

For this part of my work, I am deeply grateful today.