Gratitude in Adversity

When things go badly, it is a human tendency to see our lives being controlled by our circumstances. The reality is that our lives are not controlled by our circumstances. Our lives are empowered or destroyed by our attitude.

Jack Canfield, author of the prolific Chicken Soup series, offers this equation. E+R=O. Event + Response = Outcome. In other words, events do not have power over our lives. It is our response to those events that determine the path we take. There is no more powerful response to the adversities of life than gratitude. Adversity, when faced with honesty, faith, and courage can make us better, stronger, wiser people. But what about tragedy?

I am not saying we should be grateful for terrible tragedies in our lives. But when we can find the strength to find reason for gratitude even in the midst of tragedy, we will discover a powerful path to healing.

Terry Thomas enjoyed a storybook romance and a fairy tale wedding. He and his bride were en route to the airport for a flight to Nassau for their honeymoon when a tragic car accident took the life of his wife of only a few hours. In a remarkable tale of faith, he discovered healing through gratitude, shared in his book, "At Least We Were Married".

When I was a protestant minister, my first sermon told the story of Josiah. He was a little known Israelite king. Overshadowed by the personages of David and Solomon, the Bible records that Josiah was the greatest king Israel ever had. When Israel was attacked by an alliance of other nations who greatly outnumbered the small Israelite kingdom, Josiah went to war with an attitude of gratitude. He placed the choir in the front column of the army and marched into battle singing, "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His mercy endures forever." The enemy was astonished, confused and fled in terror.

Life seems full of adversities, even tragedies. Faith, patience, perseverance, and endurance all help to bring us through. But gratitude turns the table. We are no longer the victim being threatened by our circumstances. We are the victors, rejoicing in our triumph over adversity.