Grateful Heart Friday

It's Grateful Heart Friday!  I'm going to take a moment to reflect back on my week and recall all the things to be grateful for.      I have to admit, I've been in a bit of a funk lately.  I'm tired, short tempered, and just feeling a little down.  Perhaps it's coming off the high of a weekend away and having my parents here for almost a week.  I miss the help and the companionship!  Yesterday I took the littles on a walk to pass time before the dreaded dinner hour.  The girls insisted on pushing their baby dolls in strollers which is always a cute scene!  As we walked through our neighborhood I almost dreaded every step.  I just was having a bad day.  Tears filled my eyes and I just started to thank God for anything and everything I could think of.  "Thank you for the blue sky.  Thank you for healthy kids.  Thank you for legs that work.  Thank you for air to breathe..."  I know that God loves a grateful heart and I truly believe that being grateful is something we need to work on intentionally.  It doesn't always come naturally to be thankful!  Sometimes my funks come from focusing on all that I don't have and I that I wish I did.  Choosing to be grateful instead pulled me out of myself and placed my eyes on something much greater.
     I'm grateful for February and all the pink and red that has filled my house!  I'm grateful for the little monkey fighting me for my chair right now.  I'm grateful for my mom and her pampering love!  I'm thankful for my dad and how he is fully present with my children when he visits.  I'm grateful for a park in my neighborhood.  I'm grateful for forgiving children.  I'm grateful for a patient husband.  I'm grateful for Steven Tyler on American Idol!  (Can I say that?  I love that guy!)  I'm grateful that today is Friday and this week is over!  I'm grateful for a Valentine's party tomorrow and for a birthday party Sunday for one of my favorite 3 year olds that makes me feel like I'm the greatest Auntie ever!  Most of all I'm grateful that I do know someone greater than myself and that even though I sometimes don't choose to focus my life on Him, He waits patiently for me.  Always forgiving.  Always loving.  Always present.

Now it’s your turn – take a few moments to reflect on all the blessings from this past week and cultivate your grateful heart!