An Attitude With Gratitude

"The happiest people do not have the best of everything. They just make the best of what they have."

I borrowed this from yet another blog this week. Can you tell that we have been hanging out on the couch for over a week now?

That quote seems to sum up what our family has been doing for a year and a few months now. We have been trying to make the most out of life and trying to figure out how to carry this enormous pain in our hearts at the same time. It is a tough job.

Perspective is a key element in finding joy. Having a heart filled with gratitude can make a hug difference on your outlook on life.

Last night we were faced with the sad experience of saying good bye and farewell to yet another person who has made a tremendous difference in the lives of EVERY member of our family. I've come to realize that I do not like good byes. So I put my "attitude with gratitude" into motion and the perspective shifts a little...

We "GET" to feel sad saying goodbye. It is a gift because it is a sign that we loved well and were loved in return. Feeling sad means this person has made a way into our hearts. This person made a difference and really helped us in ways that are immeasurable and for this we are grateful.

We GET the opportunity to say goodbye and to share with this person the ways that they have impacted our lives for the better.

We GET to say good bye and to have that sense of closure but will remain hopeful that we will be able to stay in touch over the years.

We GET to feel sad because it means we know the tremendous gift of letting people into our hearts and into our lives,especially during a time of great need and despair. We had the privilege of seeing the numerous (too many to count)provisions that God made for us when we needed it most. We know about and felt the ways that family, friends, and even more profound, the ways that complete strangers can impact a human heart and soul. We have learned to accept the helping hands, compassion, love, and support that so many others can offer.

We GET to say goodbye knowing that God placed this person in our lives at a very specific time and for a very specific purpose.

We GET to say goodbye knowing that our lives are better for having had this person leave their mark on our hearts. The lessons we have learned will remain a part of who we have become.

We GET to say goodbye at a time when we are stronger.

We GET to say goodbye with fond memories and stories to warm our hearts for many years to come.

We GET to hold this person in our hearts forever. Memories last a lifetime.

We GET to warmly send this special person on their way and share in their joy and excitement as they begin a new chapter of their life journey here on earth. We GET to feel joy in our hearts knowing that this person is embracing the "good" in life and chasing after it with their whole mind, body, and soul. One must ride out the good waves of life for as long as you can and as far as they will take you. CARPE DIEM!

So while it still makes us feel sad to say goodbye, an attitude with gratitude makes all of the difference in the world!

** I have had to say goodbye too many times to count this last year. Not even one was easy. I had each and every one of these people in mind as I wrote this post. If any of you are reading this, know that you are deeply missed and thought of often. You are FOREVER in our hearts and will never be forgotten.