Hidden Blessings

Gratitude is the answer, no matter the question. When life throws you a curve ball, be grateful that you have the hands to catch it- for there is always blessing in every circumstance, even if we can’t see it in the moment.

On this past Easter Sunday I was reminded of this, as I had a skiing accident. Not being one to complain or be a baby, I got back up and skied down the rest of the hill after skiing way too fast and wiping out into a snow bank. Two days later when I was convinced to go to an orthopedic doc, we found that I’d torn my MCL and fractured a bone in my right knee.

My first reaction was that there was NO way I was going to be on crutches for 6 weeks! No way! I couldn’t! I have places to go, people to see and business to be done. I’m too busy! I could almost hear the Universe laughing.

Then, I remembered that life never gives us a problem without also sending a blessing. As I started to look for the blessing, I found not only one, but several.

This mishap gave me the opportunity to allow others to give to me. I’ve always been better at giving than receiving. From going to get takeout from our favorite restaurant, going to the grocery store, making sure my computer power cord was by my favorite chair, to fetching ice on the hour… it was really touching to watch the joy that my husband felt as he showed his love for me in a whole new way.

Additionally, I reconnected with local friends who wanted to stop by, and I had the time to visit with them.  Sometimes it takes us really going faaaast (into a snow bank) for us to remember to slow down.

During this experience I also met a new friend, found out about a big problem of his, and introduced him to another friend who solved his problem. If I hadn’t crashed, he’d still be dealing with this for a long time. Could I have met him in another way? Perhaps, but sometimes I think the Universe is smarter than I am.

I’m sure this will be inconvenient for a few weeks, but it won’t stop me from doing what I love to do. It just makes me appreciate the joy of being able to run up steps, the beauty of taking walks in the woods and little things that I take for granted most days. It will make me appreciate my strong healthy body even more.

It also makes me appreciate that it’s only a hurt knee, when it could have been so much worse. So rather than complaining about a situation that I created, whether intentional or not, I’m choosing to find the blessing in the moment.

What “crashes” have you had in your life, and what blessing came from it for you? (I’d love if you’d share your story with us below.)

No matter who we are or what we do, there will be times in life when we crash, literally or figuratively. What’s most important is that we get back up, and find the blessing in the situation…. for it’s always there.