Grateful for Things I Usually Take for Granted

 In this first week of the new year I find myself facing an age-old problem. A month ago I had a very bad cold that triggered my asthma and I’ve been coughing, wheezing, and short of breath ever since. We just can’t seem to get it under control yet. As a child, I had asthma attacks twice a year with my first one happening when I was a baby. I didn’t completely grow out of it but I’ve learned to avoid or limit exposure to my allergens and other triggers and actually haven’t had a full-on attack like this in 10 years.

As I look back at this past week, it would be easy to be discouraged and I admit there is a very tiny part of that which I am keeping firmly under wraps. Instead, I chose to ask myself and dwell on where I saw God in it all. As a solitary extreme introvert, I am amazed by the sheer number of people in my life who have reached out to see if I need anything and who are praying for my well-being. It is both overwhelming and humbling. It’s a good reminder to me of the kind of person I want to be to those around me. I also have a greater appreciation this week for air to breath and the modern conveniences that connect me with the outside world from my sickbed. I am grateful for medical staff whose compassion and expertise are aiding me through it and for modern medicine that makes this life-threatening condition a little less threatening. I am truly grateful to God for these many blessings. Maybe a little more grateful than I’ve been in a while.

I hope I get better soon and when I do I don't want to forget again how grateful I should be to God for the things I usually take for granted like breathing or being able to walk up the stairs without stopping halfway up to catch my breath or taking out the garbage without using a rescue inhaler or the ability to go to work or sing in church. God is not stingy with his blessings. Every moment and activity is a gift from God and I've been a little too reserved in my gratitude. My life is filled and overflowing with God's blessings if I look for them from the viewpoint of not having them. A friend once asked me: If you wake up today only with what you thanked God for yesterday, what would you have? It's so easy to overlook these everyday ordinary constant blessings in my life and while I hate being this sick, it has helped make me keenly aware again of how blessed I am.