Gratefulness
On June 30th I tested positive for the Coronavirus.
I was sick and after a few days went into Banner Desert Hospital with pneumonia. I was in the hospital for 11 days, was released, home for two days and then had to go back to the hospital with a tension pneumothorax (left lung collapsed pushing over my heart and right lung) for another 12 days.
During the 23 days I was in the hospital, I felt fear and hopelessness, but I would pray with a heart of gratitude and my spiritual being was better. I want to thank every one of you who prayed for me while I was sick. I am so grateful to all of you!
Two verses that talk about gratefulness are 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks with a grateful heart,” and 1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” When praising God, and in prayer, we naturally have a grateful heart.
On day eight, I thought my lung had healed. I was thinking I would soon be out and was feeling joy. The next day I found out my lung was still leaking. That was my lowest point during all the 23 days I was in the hospital. I had set myself up and now knew that nothing had changed.
However, the next day I changed, I know that gratitude is an attitude. Like love, you have control over your emotions and can always have a heart of gratitude. You can not worry and be grateful at the same time. Also, being grateful can make you stronger and grateful for all the obstacles in your life. That day I was grateful to be alive, to be in the hospital, and to have my wonderful wife and family, even though I could not see them. As I was being grateful, my fear disappeared, I was more positive and trusting in the Lord.
I was reminded of an article by Dr. Gregory M. Lousig-Nont: “Let every day be the best day of your life!” The last sentence in the article says: “As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Lord for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectations because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!”
I pray that as a community we all have grateful hearts as we face the Coronavirus and other obstacles in our life.