So our branch in church does this thing where there is an RS newsletter. It's so we feel more connected since there are many of us that live in a city by ourselves. I never really wanted to contribute to them, I don't know why, but since I visit teach the woman who is in charge of the newsletter when she asked me to write something I couldn't really say no. She asked me to write on the topic of what I am truly grateful for. While writing it I thought this would be a good thing to post on my blog since I haven't updated it in forever. So here it is! What I am truly grateful for:
One of the biggest struggles I have is that I suffer from depression; both seasonal and, at times, a mildly crippling case of just general depression. It can get to be very overwhelming for me and leads me to retreat from life sometimes. So one thing I am truly thankful for is the friendships I have made with my family members and with friends I have made all around the world.
The hardest thing about this trial in my life is that it brings out someone who is the exact opposite of my normal self. I am usually a very social and outgoing person. I love being in a crowd and having a full calendar of things to do. When I get depressed it becomes a vicious cycle for me. I don’t want to go out, I don’t want to be around people and I struggle to get excited about anything; which only makes me more depressed.
It seems to me that the friends and family I have in my life have always just known the exact moment I need them and have always been there for me: a phone call or email from my brother to encourage me or check in on me, an invitation to go out to dinner from a friend to catch up, or someone just telling me they noticed they haven’t seen me around lately. It is like they can sense when I am struggling and know the perfect thing to help. I know this is not a coincidence. I know that I have had people placed in my life to help me through my trials who are in touch enough with the Spirit to know when they are needed.
I have also been blessed to have amazing in-laws. From people who know exactly what I am going through because of their own personal struggles to people who just love me unconditionally and support me when I’m down. They also raised an amazing son who just seems to know how to make me smile when I’m sad and how to get me out of a situation when I feel completely overwhelmed or that sometimes a trip to a tropical location in the middle of the winter is just what the doctor ordered.
I am truly blessed by the people the Lord has put into my life and the support he gives me through people who love me. I cannot list everyone here who has helped me in one way or another, but I am grateful for all the amazing people I know and can call my friends and family.
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