Every morning when I write in my prayer journal, I start with seven things I’m grateful for.  That keeps me focused on my multitudes of blessings, instead of the squeaky wheels.  I haven’t ALWAYS done this, of course–I originally read about keeping a gratitude journal in Sarah Ban Breathnach’s groundbreaking book, “Simple Abundance”–and her recommendation is choosing five things to be thankful for.  Sometimes, I record the same things, day after day.  Other times, there’s some variety.  It’s so easy to forget how blessed we really are–even when circumstances seem difficult in the extreme.

Some of the things I’m grateful

I need to remind myself of that, often–‘keep it simple’, I mean.  For whatever reason, my natural inclination seems to be to complicate things. 

For instance, my morning devotional program.  This time is vital to me, on every level.  The problem?  There are SO MANY good devotionals out there–I ended up with a stack of books nearly two feet high.  Between traveling and being sick, I fell behind, and then I wasn’t showing up for devotions at all.  Not good.  Nothing sends me spiraling into depression faster than missing my prayer and meditation time.  You’d think I’d learn, wouldn’t you?