This is our second Christmas, third major holiday in a row that we’ve been home sick. It seems the closer we get to gathering with family, the more congestion sets in, then a fever and bam! Suddenly all the baking and bustling, the planning and purchasing, are pointless. We’re home sick for yet another holiday.

I know what you’re probably thinking. That we’re some super uptight, no sniffles-allowed family, but we truly do not try to be! We wait until the last possible minute, making sure we’re truly miserable and definitely contagious before making the call.

This all really bums me out. I want to see family, to participate in traditions. I want to watch my littles ones’ eyes reflect the candlelight of Christmas eve service, to hear them run down the stairs on Christmas morning instead of cough themselves awake. We all want to eat sweets and special food, instead of chicken soup and saltines.

It’s hard, frustrating, disappointing.

Then along comes that little heavenly shoulder tap, that whisper to remember two very important things: Gratitude and Perspective.

I’m convinced that the happiest, most peaceful people on this earth have this nailed down. They can see the big picture. Their lens is not hyper-focused on self, or even their own little circle; it’s set to a wider scope. They think about others and understand that not all suffering is created equal. They can empathize and step outside themselves, which seems to make them a better kind of person all-around.

I think perspective and gratitude go hand-in-hand, because when we see even the most mundane things as something that someone else would treasure (a hot meal, a soft bed, running water) perspective starts to set in. And while being grateful for these little (to us) things might not be a feeling, it can become a practice.

I am a wee little newbie at all this, truly. I think most my life I spent trying to unlock the keys to my own happiness by changing this, tweaking that, adding or subtracting from my calendar, work, relationships.

But in the recent years of practice in perspective and gratitude, I’ve already noticed a huge difference in my joy, in my resilience. Part of this is my Christian understanding that this is not my home. I can expect the occasional disappointment. I am not alone in hardship. I can trust that circumstantial change for the worse, has the possibility to change me for the better.

I hope you all were able to see family and celebrate together this year. But I know, like us, you’ve probably experienced some tough weeks of sickness, surprising disappointments or even worse. I hope for you and for me that in these moments, we can find a new way forward. One of both gratitude and perspective. We’re on the journey together.

Truth to meditate on in seasons of disappointment:

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:6-8

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:2