Putting a focus on gratitude and kindness
“As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.”
— Ecclesiastes 11:5 (KJV)
I received an unexpected phone call from an old work acquaintance. She explained to me that God had placed it on her heart to call and thank me for what I had done for her.
This piqued my curiosity, because I didn’t remember doing anything for her.
She went on to tell me her story, that while we were sitting in a work meeting discussing some recurring problems, she heard me mention, “I have done all I can about that. I am going to give it to God.”
Hearing those words, all of a sudden, the light went on in her heart and mind. She realized that she wasn’t giving anything in her life to God, and started examining and changing her attitude.
For a long time, she had been struggling with infertility issues, as her and her husband tried to conceive a second child. She placed the blame on him for her 10 years’ worth of failed attempts.
She desired another child so much, that she considered bailing out of her marriage. But she started rethinking all of that. Instead of being resentful toward her spouse, she asked for forgiveness and placed her focus for a second child on the back burner.
She purposed herself to be kinder and more considerate to her husband and others. She chose not to be so quick to judge and distanced herself from critical people.
She said, over a period of time, surprising changes started to occur. She received a new job that was a better fit for her personal and family needs. New friendships came her way. She felt better about herself!
She finalized the conversation by saying, “I called to thank you, because I recently revealed to someone the need for God in their life and they thanked me for it. Their act of gratitude made me realize it was something I needed to do, as well.”
A few weeks later, she shared with me her good news.
“The strangest thing has happened,” she exclaimed. “Within one month of our conversation I found myself pregnant, and my due date is Christmas!”
Her due date stirred my thoughts to the miracle of Christmas and God’s mysterious ways.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and writing coach. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com.