Living our lives in gratitude

Henri Nouwen writes, "gratitude is the opposite of resentment and return is the inner movement from resentment to gratitude. Gratitude for the gift of your life is your response to God's abundant love....Life is a struggle and choosing to live the struggle gratefully and humbly as a child of God makes all the difference between a fulfilled life and an empty life."

Wherever one lives, whatever our circumstances, we have the choice to be angry/bitter or loving/grateful.  Birmingham brought these choices into sharp focus as our team worked closely with our African American hosts. A distinct and wonderful joy is created when one works wholeheartedly for the Lord and His people. It was good to leave "fingerprints of love" in the siding, the moldings, the cabinets of Mary's Habitat house.