January 31st gratitude

One of the great things about social media for someone who has lived in several places over the years is that it gives one the ability to keep in touch with friends from long ago.  Yesterday, I saw were friends from my time in Tallahassee were at my hospital because their daughter had surgery.  I sent a message letting them know that they were at my hospital.  They shared their daughter's patient room number and today I got to go and visit with them.  It was a privilege to support them and a great joy to visit with them.  It has been over 15 years since the last time that I visited with them.  I am thankful for the opportunity that encouraged me.
Today also included going to an oncologist appointment with dad.  Dad has been struggling with low appetite and discouragement which has discourage me in turn.  I wound up being encouraged during dad's doctor's visit as he said that he believed we now had the chemo side-effects under control and that if dad is able to get the chemo treatments dad's lab work has indicated that the chemo is working against his cancer.  I am thankful for that little bit of hopeful news which helps with my perspective.  God continues to provide right on time.

January 30th Gratitude

Today, I am thankful for my cats, Socks and Mittens who welcome me home each day and then sit on me to keep me warm. 😊

January 29th Gratitude

Today, I am thankful that a doctor engaged me in small talk as we were waiting for the elevator.  The hospital I work at has many buildings and my office is on the first floor of one building but the majority of the patients that I am responsible to visit are on the 9th floor of the building one block north.  There are multiple floors that have sky-walks over the street but the 9th floor isn't one of them.  I usually cross on the 8th floor and take a back elevator down to the first floor of the building where my office is.  However, today, because this doctor had engaged me in conversation instead of pushing the button for 8 and crossing over on that level.  I rode down to level 2 continuing to talk with the doctor. I wished him a good evening and then walked across towards the building where my office was.  I rounded the corner and saw Tommy and Renee.  I am super thankful that I got to see them.  Tommy became the minister of music at my church when I was a high school freshman and was there for over 17 years.  I can't began to say the influence that this couple and their family had on me.  They were instrumental in God's leading and calling me to ministry.  It thrilled me to be able to see them and to both encourage and be encouraged by them.  May God always order my steps to be in the right place at the right time.  I'm so thankful that God used that doctor both to bless me through visiting with him but to get me to the right place to be blessed by seeing people who are incredibly near and dear to my heart.

January 28th gratitude

Today, I give thanks for people who see beyond themselves.  I visited a patient today in my unit that has semiprivate beds.  I visited with and prayed for a patient and then as I was getting ready to leave I asked her if there was anything else that she needed or that I could do for her.  She said that I could visit her friend in the next bed because she was having a hard day.  This patient was probably 70 while the patient on the other side of the curtain was probably in her 20s. I looked around the curtain and the patient appeared to be asleep.  I started to tell the first patient that the other one was asleep and to say that I would pray for her when I heard he second patient say in a weak voice, "I'm awake."  I went and prayed with her because she didn't feel up to visiting but did want prayer.  I thanked the first patient for telling me about her roommate.  I might have had a little dust in my eyes as I walked down the hallway afterwards.  I am always moved by patients who are concerned about others in the midst of their struggle.

January 27th Gratitude

Today, I give thanks for my coworker who saw that my list of patients was overwhelmingly large and got help covering one of my units which gave me the time to make rounds in the ICU and help patients dealing with trauma.  Team work is great.

January 26th Gratitude

Today, I am thankful for the opportunity and ability to be the last minute substitute flutist at church.  I live to play and to sing but can't do both at once. Fun to worship God with the flute this morning. 

Job 21: 12

January 25th Gratitude

Today, I give thanks for the opportunity and ability to help my dad. I'm thankful that I was blessed with awesome parents. 

January 24th Gratitude

Today I am thankful for a sunny day.  I'm also thankful that I was able to get some needed car maintenance completed. 

January 23 thanks

Today,  I experienced a first in my over 30 years working in healthcare settings.  I  got on the elevator at the 8th floor of the hospital and was going down to the 1st floor.  Halfway down,  I noticed that a man on the elevator with me was wearing a pistol on his hip. He did not have anything visible to identity him as law enforcement. The only people who are supposed to have guns at the hospital are law enforcement officers acting in that capacity. I was very concerned about what this man might do.  I work in our trauma units and there's always a concern that someone may try to finish what they started with one of our assault victims.  We also had an employee shortage and killed 2 years ago. I am thankful that this man got off the elevator on the second floor with everyone else and did not continue on the elevator with just me to the first floor. I'm glad that I was able to quickly alert our police who went to check it out.  I'm thankful that I didn't hear news of a shooting happening at my hospital.  I am thankful for God's hand of protection. 

January 22nd Gratitude

Today I am thankful for my 12 year work anniversary at UAB. It has been wonderful to work somewhere that allows me to live close to family. I have made wonderful friends through work and see God ar work every day  

January 21 gratitude

Today, I am thankful for my two cats, Socks and Mittens, who are always excited to see me when I come home at the end of the day.  They  are sweet loving kitties.  I am also thankful today for the wonderful ear-warmer/head band that my Aunt Mary Ruth knitted as a Christmas present for me.  With the temperature in the 20's or 30's with strong winds, my ears were protected and stayed warm.

January 20th gratitude

Today, I give thanks that the interstate bridge through downtown Birmingham is open again.  Today was a holiday so traffic was light but I think the changes that have been made really will make my daily commute easier.

January 19th gratitude

Today, I give thanks for the opportunity to gather with my church for worship.  I thank God for the gift of music and the opportunity  to praise him through song.

January 18th--gratitude

Today, I am thankful for the opportunity to sleep late.  After burning the candle at both ends all week, it is nice to get some rest.

January 17th gratitude

Today, I am thankful that my nephew, John, made it safely through surgery this morning.  Secondly, I am thankful that dad was well enough to get his chemo treatment today.

January 16 gratitude

Today, I'm thankful that I wasn't alone in the office this afternoon.  Our office administrative assistant who normal functions as the department receptionist has been out this week.  I was in the office and a man came up to the office and knocked very loudly on the door which is a glass door in a class wall.  His manner seemed very out of control and he spooked me.  I did not feel safe.  Thankfully, one of our other chaplains was in the office and got up to check out what was going on.  The man had come to visit someone else in the department.  I am thankful for God's provision for my safety.

January 15th gratitude

Today, I give thanks for my friend, Yolanda, who retires on Friday.  She is one of the founders of Blazin' Hooks and Needles which is a knitting and crocheting group at UAB.  This group has become great friends and we have

January 14th thanks

Today, I am thankful to see God at work ordering my steps to get me to the right place at the right time.  One of the units that I cover at the hospital has semi private rooms.  I went to visit a patient who was assigned to the window bed.  He was out of the room.  I had spoken to the patient in the door bed when I first entered the room and stopped to talk with him more on my way out even though there wasn't a consult and the patient had not asked for a chaplain to come.  He shared that he was having to make a decision about whether or not to have a surgery.  I listened as the patient shared his concerns and provided support and prayer for the patient.  After visiting with this patient he and I both decided that this visit was the one that God had planned for me to make. ---The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

January 13th-gratitude

I give thanks today for safe travel in the rain and on wet roads.  I'm thankful that dad thinks his pain was a little bit less today.  I am thankful for my Toastmasters club and the support and encouragement that we provide to one another.

January 12th--thankfulness

Today, I was so excited to see a friend at church who had not been there for several months.  It brought a huge smile to my face.  I was also thankful to have another friend and his daughter join church this morning.  I am also thankful for the opportunity to have a good conversation with one of my nephews this evening.

January 11th Gratitude

I am thankful for the plumber who came this morning, cleared the roots out of my sewer line, and got my pipes flowing freely again.  I am also thankful that this afternoon's storms did not cause any great damage in my area.

January 10th-Gratitude

I am thankful that a patient's family member felt comfortable enough to pour out her heart to me.  A lady of great faith who was in great pain.  God let me be his ears to hear and arms to hug today. 

January 9th gratitude

Today, I am thankful for sun glasses and that it was a sunny morning and I needed them.  I am thankful that several lanes have opened back up on the interstate where construction has been going on for nearly a year--the end is in sight.  I am thankful for the cellphone that a patient who is on the ventilator used today to be able to text to me what he wanted to say since he couldn't speak.  I am thankful for pen and paper that another ICU patient who is mute used to communicate with me.  I treasure the effort these patients put into being able to communicate with me and the trust they placed in me as they shared their concerns, as well as, their statements of faith in God even in the midst of their trials.

January 7th Gratitude

Today, I am thankful for a patient's daughter that I met at work.  Our lives had many parallels, and I think God used us both today to bless one another.  We are both journeying alongside our dads with cancer and both have testimonies of how our fathers are seeking to glorify God through the journey.  I'm also thankful that my BSF group started back up tonight after the holidays.  I love the fellowship and growth that happens when we study God's word together.

January 8 gratitude

Today, I am thankful that the temp warmed up 15 degrees between home and work.  I'm thankful for a visit with my friend Caroline whose father-in-law died recently.  I'm thankful that we started back in choir practice today.  I'm thankful that the new couple from church recognized me when they saw me at work and said hi.

January 6th Gratitude

In my job as a hospital chaplain, I frequently pray with patients.  We almost always pray for healing and better health but I will ask patients and families if there is anything else that they want to pray for.  Today, I had multiple patients request prayer for our country and the world.  I am thankful for people who will take their uncertainties both personal and global to God and that I have the opportunity to be a part with them.  I see my country growing increasingly divided.  In the midst of that division, when we turn to God and truly pray for him to give us love for one another, especially those who are different from us, he will answer.  Thankful for God's faithfulness.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Today I'm thankful, January 5th

Today, I'm thankful for the opportunity to gather at my church and worship.  I'm thankful for a beautiful, sunny day.  I'm thankful for my cats, Socks and Mittens who've kept me company today as I've done work in the house.  I am blessed.

January 4--Grattitude

Today, I am thankful that I got to sleep in.  I'm thankful that it was a sunny day.  I'm thankful that I found the flash drive that was hiding between the seat and console in my car.  I'm thankful that I was able to go to my nephew, Evan's wedding to his lovely bride, Abbey.  Thankful for family, friends, and the goodness of life.

Today, January 3rd, I'm thankful

Today has been another dreary day weather wise.  I am thankful for windshield wipers, my umbrella, and a new roof that doesn't leak.  I am also thankful that I made it home safely--dark, rainy and sleepy don't make for good driving.  I'm thankful for the parking lot that I pulled into for less than 10 minutes but was able to get myself awake enough to make it the rest of the way home.

January 2nd I'm thankful for

Today was a bit of a challenge going back to work.  my parents were both educators, so I grew up with a 2 week vacation at Christmas being the norm.  I work in a hospital.  Those don't ever close.  Today, I am thankful for meaningful work.  I am thankful for light traffic and good parking spot because so many people are off from work while school is out.  I'm thankful that I got to stop by and see dad this evening and got a big hug.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

20/20 Vision--corrected by the lens of intentional gratitude

September 26, 2017 was a day that my world turned upside down.  My husband, Tim, died unexpectedly from a heart attack. Following his death, I became aware of a side of him and a regular practice that he had that I didn't really realize how big of an impact he was having on the lives of others.  I knew that Tim would post scripture verses and things that he was thankful for on Facebook pretty regularly.  It turned out that he did it pretty much every day and he had a huge following who looked forward to seeing what he expressed gratitude for each day.  It was usually something simple that had made him smile--one of our pets, a scene from nature, some good food, and often I have been told he expressed his love and gratitude for me.

I began in November 2017 to practice a month of intentional gratitude as a tribute to Tim, a way to connect to God, and as a way to heal my grief as a new widow.  I continued that practice in November 2018 and 2019.  I have decided to continue this practice of intentional gratitude as a blog for the year of 2020.  I have found that when I practice gratitude, I am forced to find and focus on the good going on around me rather than becoming fixed on the negative.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Today, I give thanks for all the new starts that people are making.  I am thankful for the Southern traditional New Year's meal of black-eyed peas, turnip greens and corn bread and that I got to prepare it and share it with my dad who is fighting stage IV pancreatic cancer.  I am thankful for God's love that has and will continue to sustain me.