It was an extremely difficult and trying time for our family as we saw her trying to fight the illness to the very end.
As we laid her to rest, we were able to find comfort and solace in each other but, more importantly, we were able to appreciate the brevity of life and the importance of being grateful for the little things.
It is bittersweet that, in most instances, family is brought together by death, but it is at times like this when one realises how blessed he or she is to have family.
I had a conversation with my cousin and we spoke about gratitude, and how the more grateful you are, the more blessed you will be.
“The heart that is always grateful is a heart that will always find contentment,” he said.
Oftentimes we are chasing something the next goal, the next achievement, the next pay cheque (to name a few things), and we forget to embrace the present and all we have to be grateful for.
There is a clichéd sentiment that expresses that God will not give you more if you are not already grateful for what you have, and I agree.
For instance, how can God trust you with R1-million, if He cannot trust you with R10?
How can God trust you with success if He cannot trust you with challenges?
How can God trust you with blessings if He cannot trust you with gratitude for what he has already given you?
You see, happiness is not a by-product of external factors or circumstances being in your favour.
Happiness comes from finding the good in every circumstance, no matter how trying, and being grateful for that fact.
Robert Holden said, “Beware of Destination Addiction – a preoccupation with the idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job and with the next partner.
Until you give up the idea that happiness is somewhere else, it will never be where you are.”
I believe that the reason we will forever find ourselves envious, bitter or unhappy is because we fail to appreciate what we have and who we are.
The irony is also that we expect others to appreciate us and our uniqueness, but we do ourselves an injustice by thinking we would be better off if we were someone else or living a better life.
Comparison stems from a lack of contentment and appreciation for your individuality and your unique journey, and embracing the present moment and the present you.
A high school friend of mine taught me to take as many pictures as possible, pictures of anything, because once a moment is unappreciated and gone you will never get it back.
As we ended the day and evening of our aunt’s funeral, my cousins and I sat and reminisced, laughed about the good times, and reflected on how much we have grown and achieved, with no promise of tomorrow.
It is at that point when I realised that I am blessed.
In that present moment, I could not ask for more; anything more added unto me and my life would purely be the grace and favour of God.
I believe that is the spirit of gratitude and gratitude produces favour…
