A Prayer A Day Keeps Me Grateful and Humble

Daily writing prompt

What daily habit do you do that improves your quality of life?

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This past weekend, I spoke to my husband about buying a new 65-inch television for the basement. We have a 45-inch smart TV down there now, but I find myself quenching my eyes up to see the small print that explains each episode’s topic. He is a former chemist and scientist, so he grabbed the Consumer Reports magazine and researched the costs. When the costs exceeded $1000, I changed my mind.

It is so easy to want bigger, presumably better than we possess. There seems to be an acquisitive element in our human DNA that seeks to build taller buildings, longer yachts, bigger pickup trucks or cars, and larger homes. It is as if there is never enough to fill our needs or desires, and I wondered what is missing in our over-commercialized lives that needs to be assuaged that we seek to have more things. On Facebook, more reels are about things than the love of neighbor or acts of kindness.

I find that if I start my day with words of thanksgiving and appreciation for what I have, listing each of my blessings out loud, such as food, clothes, physical and mental health, a wonderful husband, all children doing well, and living in a free country where I can worship as I please. I remember a song from when I was a child that tells us to count our blessings, to name them one by one, and it will surprise you what God has done. In prayer, I try to put this in action, and I am humbled by the grace and mercy of God. I am grateful for what I have, especially because so many have less. I will continue to enjoy our televisions, getting closer to the set to see the notes rather than keep adding to the junk in the world’s garbage dumps.

Daily being inundated with advertisements in all of the media we access can leave us believing that we are destitute when we are so highly blessed and favored to have life abundantly in the love of family and friends, the smiles of strangers as we pass on the walking trails, the appreciation of neighbors when we look out for their packages and welfare. These gifts are not on Facebook or TikTok, but they are the elements of a quality of life that we can be thankful to live and humble enough to want to admit that the “good life” begins with the light, power, and love of God for each one of us. I remind myself that all that I possess and have accomplished in this life is because of the love of God for us flawed, hoarding human beings.