Gratitude - the key to happiness.

Dearest Ones,

Most of us probably have our appointment calendars for the New Year already partly filled out. We know exactly where we want to be and how we want to get there. And then it happens - the unexpected, the unplanned, the unforeseen. The death of a family member, an accident, a serious illness or a job change. Our neatly ordered lives are shattered and we're left holding the pieces.

How do we react when things happen that we can't control? Do we become angry with God, demanding answers, or do we accept, trusting that everything will work out according to God's plan?

Do I have to be in control of everything? Today, and every day, I will trust in the goodness and wisdom of God. Most of our troubles come from our expectations. We put certain expectations on the behavior of others. We expect others always to be happy and smiling. We expect them to forgive us our mistakes immediately. In other words, we expect them to be perfect! Some people spend their entire lives trying to make others live up to their expectations - to change them. You can't change other people. God alone can change hearts. The only person you can change is yourself.

We're all a little lonely, we all feel some sense of inadequacy, some fear of failure - in other words, we all feel some emptiness. This is a natural state and designed by God to draw us to Him.

Growing up and becoming mature is all about how we handle the uncertainty of life. When we are able to accept and understand that this emptiness we feel is a natural part of being human, we are on the path to a better life. We can look at the feeling of emptiness as a blessing, if we ask God to fill our lonely hearts with His love.

To expect another to fill our emptiness is to set ourselves up for disappointment. No human being can do that - only God can. If our lives are spent expecting others to make us happy and fulfill our needs, we are asking for unhappiness.

The opposite of expectations from others is gratitude. Make thankfulness a habit. Write gratitude post-it notes and stick them around the house, in lunch bags, on the mirror, in the car - surround yourself with reminders of what you have to be grateful for. Surprise your spouse and children with these notes. You will be amazed at how much joy and fulfillment you yourself, will experience. Gratitude makes us more loving, more forgiving and more compassionate and I think all of us, deep down, want to be more that way.

As we begin a new year, let's resolve to accept with joy the twists and turns life brings us. Let us open our hearts to the wonder of each new day and trust that our lives are unfolding the way they ought. I like this motto:

"For all that has been, THANKS. For all that will be, YES."

With many blessings for the New Year,
Sister Francelle