How to Find Gratitude in an Unlikely Place
Laying in the dental chair, waiting for my mouth to numb, I slowly start to feel unwell. It’s a familiar feeling, one I hate to admit overwhelms me. As my heart races and warmth floods my body, I sit up, pulling the napkin from my neck and the glasses from my eyes. I remove my sweatshirt as I begin to tell myself to calm down. I put my hand over my heart, feeling the accelerated beating, willing myself to take slow, deep breaths.
The dentist comes in and immediately sees my discomfort. In a calm, soothing voice, she tells me I have nothing to worry about. These symptoms are common and happen to many other people.
As she takes a fan and turns it on, placing it on the counter so it is directly on me, I smile at her.
The dental hygienist comes around the corner and asks to check my blood pressure while offering her own words of care and concern.
“The same thing happens to me when I go to the doctor,” she whispers.
Tears fill my eyes at the kindness of both women.
I nod and respond, “Thank you.”
As I sit back in the chair, they continue to ask if I’m okay while also acting as though nothing has happened, chatting about the lovely weather we’ve been having and the busyness of fall and kids’ activities.
I take a deep breath, realizing my heartbeat has slowed once again, grateful for the care and compassion shown by women I hardly know.
Sharing the Compassion We Receive
It takes only a moment to see someone’s distress. We never know what a small encouragement or offer of concern might mean to another person.
As a follower of Jesus, I want to show compassion, just as He’s shown me.
How often have I cried out to God, and He answers?
Many times, it’s through words from scripture. Other times, a feeling of love and comfort alleviates my anxiety and brings me to a place of peace and hopefulness, even amid uncertainty or chaos.
Scripture tells us that “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:4).
We are to offer to others the same comfort we’ve received. But to do that, we have to approach our days with the intention of seeing the needs of those around us and then responding in love.
When we remember all that God has given to us, all the ways He’s shown up for us, we can’t help but respond in gratitude—spilling out that same love to those around us.
Showing Up For Others In Unlikely Places
This week, my challenge to all of us is to stop and notice when someone needs extra care or concern, maybe a tiny word of encouragement or a simple “me too,” and be the person who shows up for them. For our family members. Our friends. The stranger in the supermarket.
And if we’re willing to be used by God, we never know where we will find or receive kindness. Sometimes, we may be grateful in the most unlikely of places—even the dentist’s chair.
Meet Kendra Roehl
An unstoppable desire to help the hurting led Kendra Roehl to become a social worker, a foster care parent to dozens of children, an adoptive mom of three, and now mother to five. Today, she continues to care for others as a founder of The Ruth Experience, frequent speaker and author of several books, including The One Year Daily Acts of Gratitude Devotional.
Where to find her . . .
Begin Within is a series to inspire a year-round lifestyle of gratitude that will impact not only your own life, but the lives of your neighbors as well. Gratitude is a theme we talk about often around here because it ties so closely into other missional living rhythms. Practicing gratitude reminds to keep our hearts soft and expectant and our eyes open. Therefore, the more we embrace gratitude, the easier it becomes to truly see our neighbors and where we can join what God is already doing in our neighborhoods.
If you would like to contribute to Begin Within, you can find the submission guidelines here.
10 Things You Might Be Doing That Keep Your Friendships Shallow
(+ 1 Simple Habit to Shift Your Direction)
If you long for deep, meaningful relationships, this is for you!
Creating Ripples
If you would like to cultivate rhythms in addition to gratitude that will empower you live on mission in your neighborhood, check out Cultivating a Missional Life: A 30-Day Devotional to Gently Help You Open Your Heart, Home, and Life to Your Neighbors. This small book will help you make a big impact in your neighborhood as you learn to let missional living flow from the inside out. Get the 30-day missional living challenge free when you purchase the book.
