I’m Thankful: My Health

On a day (today!) that I’m plagued by pelvic pain and TMJ, I’m choosing to be thankful for my physical health.

I’m healthy, strong and pain-free the majority of the time which is such a tremendous blessing.

When Grace asks me to pick her up, I can because I’m home, not in a hospital bed.  I can because I’m strong and not stricken with chronic pain.  I can because I’m sober and not victim to substance abuse.

When I look in the mirror after getting out of the shower, I could criticize my body until the cows come home, but I don’t.  I don’t because although my arms may not be slim and sculpted, they are strong.  I don’t because even if my thighs are dimpled with cellulite, they carry me around as I walk each day.

When I style my hair and get frustrated that it just won’t do what I want it to do, or that it’s not as thick as I wish it was or that there are more greys each day, I stop and realize how blessed I am to have hair.  I don’t suffer from female pattern baldness or  alopecia and I haven’t lost it all because of chemotherapy.

When I wake up in the middle of the night hardly able to breath because heartburn is raging in my throat, I could whine and complain and stomp my feet (which I sometimes do) but I try to remember that it’s just a temporary side effect of growing a sweet baby in my womb.  As soon as she makes her exit, the heartburn will go away and I’ll be left with a precious baby girl.  I try very hard not to whine about the heartburn because my body is able to get pregnant and stay pregnant.

When I get overwhelmed by looking around my house and seeing dusty furniture and crumby floors and cluttered counters, I remember that I’m blessed to be able to see.  For as many unpleasant things I see each day, there are so many beautiful things that my healthy eyes behold…my husband’s handsome face, my daughter’s sweet blue eyes, the falling autumn leaves, pretty paintings and words on the pages of my favorite books.

May I always remember and pray for those who do not have their health and may I always choose to be grateful for the healthy body I’ve been given.