It was a normal friday afternoon. I was walking down the street coming from a coffee shop. I sat there for an hour or so to get some work done and get a caffeine fix at the same time.


So, I was walking and I noticed the sky, it was a gradient of purple and pink. I was wearing my earphones, bopping along some pop playlist.


A truck was cruising on the street and I noticed how nice it's wheels was. It was a really nice set of wheels, something I don't usually see in trucks.


Those nice wheels got me thinking of when I was saving up money to buy Bluetooth earphones. I've always wanted one of those.


I continued walking and saw people going along their lives, doing their own thing. A woman was standing on the sidewalk, looking at this man bent over the hood of his car trying to fix something.


They're obviously having some car trouble. Meanwhile, I've just came out of a cafe. Finished some study time for this software developer side quest I'm onto.


I passed by the woman and the man. A dog was running across the street, dragging behind him a girl holding on its leash. It was a big, strong dog and the girl is barely able to control it as it is running around the grass.


I was observing all this, while in my head I was thinking how nice it is that I have a remote job with a flexible schedule. It gives me freedom to do more things in a day and that, for me, is such a wonderful blessing.


Then--BAM!


This feeling swept over me and I felt it from my chest to my head. It came like a sudden wave and caught me by surprise.


It was a feeling of realization. I felt like my life flashed before my eyes. I got transported to this present time where I'm seeing clearly how far I've gone.


It was a light, airy feeling which gave bounce to my step.


Then, I realized what it was. It was gratitude.


For everything that is happening in my life.


For some reason, during that walk, I felt like I'm living a life that I used to only dream about. It's not a perfect life, not all sunshine and rainbows, but still, a life that's wonderful and amazing.


That's when I thought about gratitude and just how much power it has.


Gratitude is potent.


It's overwhelming, if I'll be honest with you. When you feel gratitude, you'll feel your chest swell up. Like, your heart can't contain everything.


Gratitude will make you realize all the big things you've done and accomplished. But, it will also make you appreciate all the little things, the smallest details of your lives that are woven together to tell your beautiful story.


Gratitude will bring out your tears. It will bring you to your knees and remind you that there really is an Almighty God up above. Because how else can you be deserving of all these things you're enjoying right now if not because of Him?


But you know what's even better? Gratitude is a neutralizer.


Remember, when I said that life isn't all sunshine and rainbows? Well then, what about all the darkness and pain, are they still something to be treasured and grateful for?


Yes.


When you have gratitude, you'll know those pain and hardships are all part of the big story. You'll know that there's no bestselling novel out there without conflict written in its pages.


There's no losing with gratitude.


Every situation, no matter how trivial nor grand, no matter how beautiful or painful it may seem, everything is just a part of something.

For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.

And for that I will always be grateful.