Living thankfully causes Monday to be a great day…full of anticipation, full of opportunity, full of new experiences and new growth.  Living thankfully transforms my vision.  Living thankfully gives me hope and peace.

I used to join with others in acknowledging the Monday blahs until life knocked me down so many times it was hard to get up with my old way of thinking.  I reached the point where getting back up was just a reflex because the alternative was a little too tough to deal with at the time.  Then, I started changing my thinking strategy.  I made the effort to be thankful in all circumstances and it has changed my outlook.

So I never get down or frustrated anymore?  No.  Of course not.  Life can be too challenging to always stay up, always positive, always thankful.  I take some potshots now and then that lead me back to my old ways.  I am not perfect.  I am not fixed.  I am still the broken, beaten guy I have always been only I choose, I said I CHOOSE, to make the effort to be thankful.  For some people it is more natural.  For me, it is a choice and one that I have found to be exceptionally rewarding.

This morning, my VSW said she hoped to see how God used her today.  I told her he just did…he used her to remind me to be thankful and be looking for how I would be used today.  What a blessing that woman is in my life.  A gift.  He used her early and I know he will use her again today, over and over.  I do hope she sees it all.

In the meantime, I will take a day and a situation that could overwhelm me and choose to be thankful for so much that I do have.  I will look for opportunity.  I will look for the door to open.  I will hope for what is to come and for what might me in the next moment.

Grace and peace.