Dear God,
This rain is for the birds.
… and the flowers and trees. And even me, too. The food I eat requires it. The landscape which feeds my spirit would be a barren wasteland without it. Thank you, my God, for this rain which I do not enjoy.
I wrote this prayer a few years ago on yet another rainy day. I get the purpose of rain. I see that it does good things. I prefer not to experience it directly. A perfect scenario would be sun during the day and rain only when I am at home, in bed, preferable asleep. I know people who are fans of rainy days, who enjoy them. I am not one such person. Rain falls into the category of Appreciation, rather than Enjoyment.
Yet, I choose to express gratitude for the rain. I thank God for it. Not always. I am more likely to when I pause. When I find myself about to grumble, sometimes I choose instead to take a moment and breathe. In that pause, I consider the purpose or value of the thing or action or experience I am wanting to complain about. When I do this, I usually find something to appreciate, and I find myself offering genuine gratitude.
This practice is not a magic formula to get me out of a cranky mood. It is not the case that when I choose to do pause and consider the good I am suddenly filled with joy and delight. What I often feel is the ever-so-slight easing of my grouch, a lessening of my determination to complain. Sometimes this effect lasts until the next time I want to focus on the unpleasant, and I find something to appreciate in that, too.
I wonder what your “rain” is, that good which you tend to grump and grouch over. May God nudge you to pause, breathe, and consider what there is to appreciate in that thing. May you experience that gentle easing toward gratitude. May you, this day, experience God’s grace and peace. Amen.
Rachael