Years ago, I got in the habit of starting my day by writing down five things I have to be grateful for. Giving thanks is not just a good thing to do, it is an integral part of my spiritual journey and helps me stay grounded, balanced, and working on enriching my life. I know others have suggested writing 5 things in in a journal each evening, but I find it a great way for me to start my day. However at night, sometimes around the dinner table or before we go to bed, my wife and I take a moment to give thanks for one thing the other one did that day that made us feel loved. I am always surprised at the little things that make her feel loved.
Sometimes I am grateful for things I have. However, sometimes I am grateful for situations that did not turn out the way I wanted because they provide me opportunities to learn, grow, and evolve. Each time I step foot in the kitchen, I have so much to be grateful for. This morning I realized how blessed I am to have access to all the Pampered Chef tools and utensils I have acquired since becoming a consultant and the lessons they have taught me.
For example, one of our tools is a Garlic Press. I use mine daily. In fact, I use it so often that I sometimes forget how grateful I am for it. Isn’t that how it is in life sometimes, We are so used to something being in our lives that we forget to give thanks for it. So this morning as I minced 8 cloves of garlic, I gave thanks for this tool which takes a whole clove of garlic and minces it in seconds, I gave thanks for the way it also peels it and for the little “brush” that I can use to remove the covering, and get every little drop of minced garlic with.
As I was mincing the garlic, I began to think about how many times I have been the garlic in my journey. How many times has God put me in this well and pressed down on me so that I can be transformed and used to do good in the world. At the same time, God has been able to remove something from me that was preventing me from doing good in the world and working to enrich my own life and the lives of those I meet.
Sometimes we can bring that transformation about on our own, but sometimes we need to be that clove of garlic and assisted in the transformation process. So today I am grateful for the journey and the lessons I continue to learn. What has been a garlic press moment in your life?