Day 23 : 30-Day Gratitude Challenge

A Few Rainy Days? Give Thanks!

What I thought were raging storms were often pathways being created to take me to another level.

I hope you all had a great Saturday. I also hope that you can forgive me for writing a rather short post today.

Feeling a bit tired, and one needs to switch off to recharge batteries. But before I do so, I'll write something from the bottom of my heart as usual. 

It's been a week of torrential rain where I live. The sun appeared for a brief moment this morning, but it wasn't long before the rains came back again. Although we had a few glorious days three weeks ago, we've been cranking up the heat since to keep ourselves warm. It feels as if winter is refusing to give way to spring, but I'm sure the rainy, cold spells will soon disappear and allow us to soak up on much-needed sunshine.

However, the more I think about it, the more I realise how blessed we are to be on the receiving end of rainfall, although many people in the UK would rather complain. There are so many people experiencing droughts worldwide and yearn for a few drops of water to quench their parched lands. You see, plants, trees, and vegetation need rain to thrive. Without rain, there's no growth, rivers and springs, no life, yet, we often moan about the restrictions that rainy weather bring. 

There are a few others who make the best out of rainy days, my kind of people! Personally, I find rain soothing. When I was growing up under the African sun, I always embraced the large drops falling from the skies. I remember how the soil would welcome the drops of water and give such a glorious aroma that most people still associate with good times. A lot of us would stand still, mesmerised by water from the heavens above. I understand that the rain has caused such catastrophic events in some instances, and my heart goes to all those who will always associate rainfall with bad memories.

For the purposes of this article, I am referring to rainy days and the storms in life that you and I have endured but survived. You didn't ask for it, but still, the rains came down. I've noticed that what I thought were raging storms were often pathways being created to take me to another level in my life. I'm one of those loyal people with a tendency to overstay my welcome, including environments I've outgrown. On countless occasions, I've tried to preserve what I thought I had and remained loyal until things got so bad I had no option but to leave. With the benefit of hindsight, I often realise that I was being forced into the next chapter, another growth phase. Sometimes God shakes the nest you reside in so you can learn to fly, whether you like it or not.

As I write this, I’m in the middle of analysing the movie, Cinderella 2015. Oh, how I've waited for such a time as this, having a ball! I am #TeamCinderella, raring to put a few wrong assumptions and misconceptions about Cinderella to bed for the record. Without getting side-tracked, there's a quote from the narrative, which I jotted down as I watched the movie for the 100th time. It goes like this, "Perhaps it was as well that her stepmother and step-sisters were cruel to her because had she not run into the forest, she might not have met the prince."

Some people have plotted all sorts against you, creating bad situations at work, church, families, business partnerships or any other setting where you felt ill-treated until you had no option but to run away. For example, a lot of companies were created by employees fleeing difficult bosses. It wasn't what you wanted initially and would have given anything to stay in the job, but in the end, the stormy conditions pushed you over the edge. Maybe you were retrenched and saw yourself on the streets, but without you experiencing a certain level of hardship, you wouldn't start your own business, utilise skills better and become a success. Naturally, we always want bright and sunny conditions but remember where there's no rain, there will be no flowers. ​

Conclusion

Tonight, why not take a moment to be thankful for the times that you thought everything was working against you: rejection, abuse, being ghosted, lies orchestrated against your name and anything that caused heartache. God works in mysterious ways. He can use stormy situations to take you into the sunset; for his glory! For all the uncomfortable rainy seasons you’ve endured, be grateful. Remember, “Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.” (Psalm 126:6)

Goodnight!

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read day 24 of the gratitude challenge: happy Mother's Day