When God gave me a diagnosis of inheriting the breast cancer gene, it took an appointment surrounded by other women with no hair or eyebrows for me to adopt a different approach of gratitude. Of course, I’m grateful for my family and a home, a fantastic church with godly pastors, but the Lord shook me by the shoulders to show me all the mercy and wisdom He has for my life.
My birthday will remind me to be grateful for my parents as I was born on Mother’s Day and my dad passed away the day after my birthday. Christmas heralds not only Christ’s birth, but many family birthdays and anniversaries. A beautiful sunset reminds me that God gave me the ability to see colors. The same stars and moon are seen by family members in different states.
Picking thankfulness over complaints isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Love God, choose joy, and pursue gratitude.
An adrenaline junkie, S.E. Clancy has skydived and worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher prior to releasing stories in anthologies, publishing contemporary Biblical retellings including True and Mercy. Her young adult novel Victoria Grace the Jerkface (WhiteFire Publishing) is a semi-finalist for the 2021 ACFW Carol Awards. A bit of a sci-fi nerd, geek, and self-proclaimed dork, there isn’t much she won’t try at least once … unless it involves mayonnaise, because that stuff is just gross.
SE Clancy’s book in collaboration with Illustrator Hannah Prewett, Our Daily Kale, will release in 2024.