My friend Laura of HeavenlyHomemakers.com has issued up a November Gratitude Challenge, and I thought it might JUST be “the” thing that gets me back into blogging here regularly.  I have a lot to be thankful for, and I have been mulling over the idea of trying to post each day with at least one thing I’m thankful for… if not more!

But first…

I’ve spent a lot of time in the last several years being alternately grumpy – and then occasionally grateful -  and then grumpy again.

Grumpy isn’t all that attractive, and if you asked me, I’d say that I prefer NOT to be grumpy… and yet I’ve continued to find myself with a frown more often than not.

I’ve blamed it on my personality (I’m a “melancholy“)…

I’ve blamed it on my poor health (which is an issue, but still…)

I’ve blamed it on stress caused from Martha’s allergies, Samuel’s school challenges, or just the fact that there are THREE kiddos running around and ONE of me…

I’ve blamed it on Allan’s silliness (there’s nothing worse than someone who likes to laugh…when you want to be GRUMPY).

I’ve blamed it on satan.

I’ve blamed it on church issues.

I’ve blamed it on the fact that I live in Vegas.

And you know what, when it comes right down to it… all of those things are all perfectly “valid” reasons to be grumpy.  (Especially Allan’s silliness!)

And yet… I know deep down that “valid reasons” is just one more excuse for the CHOICE that I’m making.

The CHOICE to be grumpy and not thankful.

The CHOICE to frown instead of smile.

The CHOICE to stomp my feet and throw a fit… instead of saying a prayer of gratitude and praise.

This is not a new revelation for me.  In fact, I’m sure somewhere in the archives I have at least one or two other posts very similar to this one.  It’s obviously something I’ll be working on until Heaven.

So, for today… for tomorrow… and the rest of this month, I’m pledging to think THANKFUL thoughts… pray GRATEFUL prayers… and share a bit of that here.

And today, I’m thankful for Laura and for the Gratitude Challenge!

What about you?  If you have something to be thankful for, I urge you to head on over to HeavenlyHomemakers.com and check out the Gratitude Challenge.  I know you’ll be glad you did!

Tags: gratitude