Pandemic Gratitude

My gratitude teacher called me today. She lives in a group home, where she is recovering from COVID-19, an outbreak that infected her housemates also, leaving one dead. It’s a grim situation. Lament and gratitude aren’t mutually exclusive though.

The lectionary reading for March 26 includes Psalm 118 verse 1 (NIrV):

1 Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
    His faithful love continues forever.

My friend is recovering - thanks be to God! She has her sense of taste back, she can taste her camomile tea. This struck me; I drink numerous cups of tea each day - am drinking one now. God has given me more opportunities for gratitude than I had realized.

If you know me well, and you read my book, you’ll realize - as I just did today - that I have named the pastor of Peach Blossom Church after my friend. God is having a laugh and I’m just getting the joke now.

Gratitude is foundational to generosity and I’m grateful to be surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.