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The women's Bible study class at the church we attend, Round Rock Presbyterian, is about to embark on a new study, based on the book Grateful by Diana Butler Bass. This group consists of women mostly about my age (old!) and very open-minded. It's no lily-livered, shallow, or platitudinous study group! I expect we'll have opportunity to discuss radical gratitude in a time of pandemic. In advance of the study's beginning on August 20, I'm reading the introductory material and thinking a good bit about gratitude. I confess to taking a good bit in my life for granted. I tend to look forward in life to what will happen next so I can prepare for it. That leaves little time for thoughts of what I've already experienced or what I already have, and yet gratitude can be my saving grace when I most need it. I've gone through periods of my life when I cannot pray, cannot worship, and cannot even confirm that God exists. But even in the worst of times, I can cultivate gratitude. I can pray my thanks to whatever deity may exist for my many blessings. That much is always possible. One blessing that I often take for granted is good health. While my body is beginning to feel its age and experiencing minor deficiencies, I rarely experience illness. When I do, it tends to be temporary or not very serious. I can be tempted to give myself credit for this healthy body (good eating habits, exercise, no smoking, etc.), but I don't really deserve the credit. I was born with healthy genes, and that's a wonderful gift. I know my good health won't last forever, and I want to be fully aware of my good fortune and appreciate each day the ability to physically do pretty much everything I want to. I intend to make this a part of my daily gratitude prayers! --Janice
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January 2022
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