Gratitude

While Ireland reels with continuing economic upheavals, there is a sense that contentment and peace is lost. The prosperity bubble of the past ten years has well and truly burst, leaving people addicted to stuff, hurting and lacking hope. I’m someone who has, in the past, thrashed about in discontent, longing for change to circumstances instead of finding the good in the present moment. I heard a woman talk recently about the spiritual discipline of gratitude; every night before she goes to sleep she lists five things that she is grateful for. It gives a sense of perspective and an idea of the abundance that is already in your life. As I deal with the disappointments, thrills and uncertainty of living out of my creativity, I’ve attempted to emulate this woman’s gratitude. So after a week that was hectic and tinged with the sadness that came from the second anniversary of my mother’s death, here’s a list of five things I’m grateful for today.

1. The view from where we live on a summer’s evening. Tonight the sky goes a dusky rose colour and blankets a gold glow over the sea front. I can see the sea’s perpetual motion as it brushes up against the coastline round Killiney Hill, Dalkey island and, far in the distance, Howth head. I can see the winking eye of the lighthouse out at sea and the ferries as they go to and from Wales and the diamond necklace of the train as it makes it’s way along the cliffs to Dublin.

2. The trees in our front garden. My Dad reminisced today about the wendy-house he built for my sister and I in the corner of the garden under the rowan and the yew trees. At the time the mimosa was just a sapling, a narrow shoot of hope in the centre of our miniature forest. Now it stands tall and blesses us with dappled shade, and a riot of yellow flower in spring. Today we decided to hang a swing from its boughs for my daughter.

3. Simon. He’s a handsome, gifted man who has walked a, sometimes, treacherous path with me. He’s believed in me at every turn, even when it’s seemed my creative life was stymied beyond repair. He’s brave; taking a leap of faith to live a different life and give more of himself to our daughter. He’s an ally that I would not do without. And he’s fun; today he took us all to the zoo where we marveled at the beauty of the animal kingdom which expresses so much of the glory of God.

4. My daughter. She’s funny and cheeky and full of adventure. She keeps alive the spirit of my mother who was just as tenacious and determined. She gives me gifts of stones, dirt, bits of paper and anything else she thinks I might appreciate and I do. She makes every day like Christmas!

5. Living the life as I’d always longed to. It’s full and frantic sometimes, we don’t always know where the next cheque is coming from but so far we’ve been able to keep the wolf from the door. We have friends that share our dreams and cheer us on, we have family close by and far away who love and support us. I’m brimming with ideas at the moment and creativity is abundant. I’ve learned that faith really is being sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you don’t see but that you only get glimpses of the miraculous after you’ve taken the leap.

 Melanie Clark Pullen is very, very grateful.

Comments

[BJ Hamrick]

Melanie, this really spoke to me. Thanks for posting it.

[Mary DeMuth]

Such a beautifully wrought post. And so important. I tend toward negativity, but thankfulness alleviates the symptoms in a flash.

[Madison Richards]

Sometimes gratitude is the only response worth making... And I love the way it changes your entire worldview. Thanks for sharing your struggles as well as your joys.

Grace,
Madison

[Nicole]

Lovely. Gratitude. Yes.