I was sitting eating lunch with my daughter with all her friends in the cafeteria table and all of a sudden I hear, “Mam.”

I turn to look across from me and there is this sweet little 3rd grade boy who says, “Ya’ll are lucky” referring to Charleston and I. I smiled and said “Oh yeah?”

He goes, “Yeah because you have each other. My mom died, she’s up there…” while pointing to the sky.

Immediately my heart sank and child counselor hat turned on. “Oh wow, I am so sad to hear that. You must be very sad about that.” I said.

“I’m ok” He says.

I said ” You are very brave to share that with me and your feelings. What a big thing to do. Thank you for sharing that with me!” I immediately asked more questions and became engaged with him as that is what he was trying to do was connect to me.

“How did your mommy die?” I asked “She had diabetics” he said. “When did she die?” I continued. “One month ago.” He shared.

“Wow, buddy I am so glad you shared that. That must be really hard” I continued.

God has always had a way of speaking to me through children. When I was a school counselor he would always use children to return my focus to him. This time, no different.

I’m usually a natural at practicing gratitude. In this past year of my life it’s been much harder and it’s been one of the hardest 1.5 years of my life. God reminded me of the blessing I have sitting right next to me from a little boy whose mom died one month ago. He saw me and immediately missed his momma and wanted to connect. After lunch we walked back to the classroom and he stood right under me and smiled. I said, “Can I give you a hug?”

What a blessing that boy was to me to help me remember to practice gratitude with the every day things such as breathing and being. Now, it didn’t make me want to go back into School Counseling; however, it reminded me of my strengths and what I need to work on at the same time.

One of the little tools I use to help me with gratitude and remembering my happy and journaling is the Happiness Project Journal. It’s such a great way of journaling a few sentences every day about something that brought you your happy. It’s a five year journal and I like to look back at entries in the past and smile.

So last night, I picked it back up as it’s been a few months since I entered in it. I use to travel with it.

Now back at it!

You can get one here if you want to start it too.

Hope this inspired you today my friend. Until next time,