Today is a big day for my strong, beautiful friend Karris. She fought a battle with breast cancer so courageously over the last 6 months and she won. Today is surgery day, and it’s scary. There’s that big, looming fear of the unknown and at the same time, comfort, knowing that it’s the beginning of the end of a long, hard journey.
If anyone can do it, I know Karris can.
I know because I know her heart. It’s been full of gratitude throughout this entire journey. Yes, of course, she’s had moments of anger, sadness, and disbelief. But her overwhelming perspective has been through the lens of gratitude. In the middle of her pain, she’s found little things to be grateful for all along the way.
That gratitude has brought her so much joy.
I woke up this morning with her name on my heart. It’s mornings like this that help me understand what it means to “pray without ceasing”. She’s just there, permeating my mind. So it’s no surprise that as she’s headed to the hospital, I read Seth Godin’s blog today, and it was all about our responsibility for gratitude. Here’s an excerpt:
“Entitlement gets us nothing but heartache. It blinds us to what’s possible. It insulates us from the magic of gratitude. And most of all, it lets us off the hook, pushing us away from taking responsibility (and action) and toward apportioning blame and anger instead.
Gratitude, on the other hand, is just as valid a choice. Except that gratitude makes us open to possibility. It brings us closer to others. And it makes us happier.
There’s a simple hack at work here: We’re not grateful because we’re happy. We’re happy because we’re grateful.
Everything could be better.
Not because we deserve it (we don’t, not really).
But because if we work at it, invest in it and connect with others around it, we can make it better. It’s on us.
It’s difficult work, counter-instinctual work that never ends.
But we keep trying. Because it’s worth it.” ~ Seth Godin
I’ve watched Karris live this. She’s owned it. She’s living it today.
Will you?
It’s on you. It’s on me. It’s on us.
to more love,
Crystal
P.S. Would you join me in praying for Karris today? Just right now, while you’re considering gratitude, whisper her name. Thank you.
2 Comments
Karris littlepage
Oh, how I love you dear friend!! I’m just getting to my phone and saw this post. Once again, you make me feel so strong and special even though that is not always the case. You have a gift for making others feel good about themselves so I thank you for that!! You are amazing and I couldn’t love you more! Well, maybe I could…. but only with a gold face mask sliding off your skin. 😘
Crystal Gornto
Oh how I love you right back! You ARE strong & special though, even when you don’t feel it. I couldn’t love YOU more. Gold face mask included. 😂 so glad you’re feeling well enough to check your phone! It’s been a rough few days I hear. Getting closer!