See The Good

Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

A car accident at age seventeen broke two vertebrae in my back. A week’s stay in the hospital for surgery meant I missed the final days of my junior year.

I was released from the hospital into a life that looked a little different. For months, I couldn’t drive or lift anything heavy. I wore a back brace everywhere unless I was lying down or swimming. Most activities I’d once been a part of—like marching band and cheerleading—were no longer options.

Nighttime was another challenge, as my movement was limited. I would lie on my side at bedtime while my mom stuffed numerous pillows behind my back to support it. I’d wake a couple of hours later and pull out the pillows so I could rest on my back. Halfway through the night, I’d call Mom, and she’d rush in to help me onto my side again, replacing the pillows behind me.

There were many times I was grumpy about my limitations, but I was grateful too: I could wiggle my toes and know my spinal cord was intact. Faithful friends brought me books and drove me to the lake to swim. And my mom faithfully helped with the pillows, night after night, even though it interrupted her sleep.

Slowly, I improved. By the time school began again, I didn’t even need my brace. But for someone who hadn’t faced many challenges, the experience was instructive. The accident taught me that we are not invincible and that life is precious. And the aftermath taught me that rarely is an experience all good or all bad—we have a choice about what to focus on. God fills our lives with good things, but we have to have the eyes to see it. Let our prayer be: May we never forget the good things he does for us. With this mindset, we’ll find renewed gratitude for the good that softens our challenges.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Spend time thanking God for the good things that emerged from a challenging circumstance in your life.