When I started Project 365 Thanks, I knew that there would be days where feeling thankful wouldn’t necessarily be easy. 
I also knew that those would be the most important days to remember to give thanks. This is what I wrote in that first post:
“Sometimes it’s easy to be thankful, but many times it’s hard. When the kids are screaming, the dishes are piled high, and I have a raging headache, it’s hard to say “thanks”. But this is when it’s most important. To learn to give thanks in all circumstances requires practice. Transformation requires training. Living a life of gratitude does not come by accident.”
Today was one of those days. I was still feeling the effects of accidentally ingesting gluten (ironically I was “glutened” at a gluten-free cooking class). This left me feeling tired and foggy with an upset stomach and headaches. By 2:30 I had to lie down for a nap. I slept until almost 5:00. I feel just like the months before my celiac diagnosis. The worst part of all of it is that I am now officially scared to eat anywhere but my own kitchen. I have been getting sick eating in homes where they are taking all of the proper precautions for me. It seems that the more I heal, the more sensitive I become. I will talk more about this in another post, but the emotional toll this week has been as heavy as the physical toll on my body.
Top that off with a random allergic reaction that Leila had tonight. She has never had hives before and they appeared out of nowhere, jumping around to different spots on her face, neck and back.
In the middle of all of this, I practiced the discipline of giving thanks. It turns out that I have a lot to be thankful for today.
I am thankful that I started the morning off with a solid word from Beth Moore.
I am thankful that I had friends who opened their ears and hearts to me today when I was hurting.
I am thankful for Jeff watching the kids so that I could take a much needed nap.
I am thankful that my parents are coming up with strategies to make their kitchen safer for me so that we can continue to have meals together.
I am thankful for my friend Kim who took my request for gluten-free communion crackers and made it happen. Now everyone at our church who needs them can pick them up for free in the bookstore. So cool!
I am thankful for my mom making a late-night run to Target and then Walmart to get the right medication for Leila’s reaction.
I am thankful that the kids went right to bed without a fuss (seriously never happens!) because they knew that I wasn’t feeling well.
I am thankful that as hard as this week has been, I know that things will get better.
Thanks for taking this journey with me friends. Don’t forget to leave a comment about your thankful week or link-up below. If you want to join us in this project, you can jump in at any time.
A very inspiring post. I’m sorry for your struggles this week, but I am thankful that you have used those struggles to lift each of us up. Thank you so much!
This is what I love most about this challenge. It really challenges you to find something to be grateful for, even when you’re struggling. So glad you thought of this awesome idea!
Thanks for sharing Alysa! I am really thankful for you, this movement, authenticity, and the shift in my focus from painful circumstances to the big picture (God’s sovereignty, the gift of life, my loving friends and family, and eternity to come).
I’m sorry to hear you are not feeling well! I totally understand the fear of eating outside of my own kitchen because one day a restaurant with a gluten free menu is fine and then the next time the food is contaminated. Praying for you and your family. I’m excited to see what the Lord continues to do through you!!
I see your thanks on twitter quite a bit. I need to take a lesson from this and show my thankfulness more often. It also sounds like you have sch a wonderful support system too. Much luck with your project…it is something w all need to be more of.