Giving thanks for pain

“Instead of waking up in the morning and thinking about what feels bad and wrong, what I am striving toward and what I don’t have yet, I’m going to focus on what feels good and right, what I am blessed to experience and humbled to witness.

And I’m not going to just limit my thanks giving to the obvious ones… things that we are used to giving thanks for: prosperity, resources, loved ones, abundance. I’m going to give thanks for this entire human experience. Pain, anger, struggle, conflict.Because these are also gifts, and are just as often openings for God’s transformation.

Because every moment of this life is such a privilege.

And because my life and my impact on those around me is better when I know that.”

— Jon Watts, 2012
Musician and founder of Thee Quaker Project

Today’s Invitation

Give thanks for the range of human experience.

This Week’s Query

How do you hold onto a spirit of gratitude during difficult times?

Has gratitude ever helped you through suffering?

Share your response!

Read the source of today’s quote
Banner art by Olive Rush

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Author

  • Jon Watts

    Jon Watts is a Quaker media creator and spiritual entrepreneur. As a songwriter, Jon toured the world sharing stories of the Early Friends and his own spiritual journey growing up in a Quaker intentional community and attending the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program at Guilford College.

    Jon’s unique success promoting his music in the early days of Youtube led him to found the QuakerSpeak project, for which he spent six years traveling, interviewing Friends, and publishing a video every week. In 2021, Jon embarked on a new journey: envisioning a future for Friends and online media.

    Jon Watts is a member of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, which holds his ministry under its care.

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