grateful Archives - Kristin Saatzer

Thanks-living

November 20, 2018 By Kristin Saatzer 6 Comments

“The one who offers thanksgiving as His sacrifice glorifies me.”

Psalm 50:23b ESV

November has not been kind to California. We lament as stories of suffering and death and horror continue to assault us. Have mercy, Lord. Have mercy!

As we roll into Thanksgiving we see “Give Thanks” signs in stores and homes. We scroll through Facebook and read posts of gratefulness. However, for some, coming up with a blessing is like finding a black cat on a moonless night. Seemingly impossible. Too much pain in the heart to search for good. Where does one begin after losing a child in a shooting or losing a home or an entire town to a fire?

A friend of mine who lost her child, once shared with me that she found it took too much effort in her grief-crippled state to come up with something she could be thankful for. She said it was a sacrifice to try to do so.Continue Reading

Mom and My Twinkie-less Lunch

May 12, 2018 By Kristin Saatzer 8 Comments

Once upon a time, there sits a girl: freckled nose, wavy hair, on the cusp of the oh-so-awkward stage, attempting to cover her shyness and vulnerabilities with coolness and confidence. Seated with her pals at a long table on a sticky chair, in a red-painted elementary school multi-purpose room.

She opens her theme lunchbox (not Barbie anymore, more like “Little House” becoming “Charlie’s Angels”). Inside is a turkey or PB&J sandwich on wheat bread. There is an apple or grapes, and carrots that won’t get eaten. She may even find a homemade chocolate-chip cookie. However, she will not find a Twinkie.

Then, at the bottom of her box, she discovers a note written on her napkin…

Oh, how my sister and I wanted Twinkies or Ding Dongs in our lunches. Our mom was not the Twinkie type. She was healthy in an unhealthy time: the late 1970’s when processed and packaged food exploded in popularity. It’s not that we never ate processed crud, just not very often. She grew up a Tomboy and farmer’s daughter raised on real food. Mom made our lunches and cooked for us almost daily.

My mother is marvelous. Truly, to know her is to love her. She is fun, funny, smart, gracious, generous, creative, positive, and my biggest fan. So, then why am I writing about not getting Twinkies in my school lunch?

You see, those lunch memories – what was in the box and not it the box – say a great deal. They represent who she is. Who she was.

She was a mama who put off her dreams to raise her girls. My mind reels at her maturity for one so young. I attribute this in large part, to my Grandma Marie. My mama’s mama was a beautiful example of motherhood.

Back to the lunchbox… Continue Reading

I Would Have Lost Heart… The Practice of Gratitude: Part 8

November 26, 2017 By Kristin Saatzer 4 Comments

The Practice of Gratitude: Part 8

Psalm 27:13-14 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

¹⁴Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

I would have lost heart, the scripture says…

I am the blessed mother of four amazing dudes. This passage of scripture from Psalm 27 was a familiar one when my circus was young. I returned to these words often. I truly would have lost heart unless I believed these wild ones would grow up with just a teaspoon of civility. I grabbed courage as I prayed they would show goodness to one another at some point in their maturity (goodness in the land of my living!) My life was a bevy of chaos, broken things, fights, noise, emotional outbursts, and fun. Little piggies ate at my table and monkeys climbed my kitchen. I agree with those who say that parenting is not for cowards or the faint of heart. Still, I was thankful for it all.

My youngest is now 13 and my brood is mostly civilized. Thank you, Jesus! My prayers for them continue, even more so. As I glance back at the tragic global events of this fall, I must find the courage to release my sons to fly in such a world.

Have you found yourself losing heart these days? I sure have. The news has given us some tough pills to swallow lately.

I would have lost heart

Yet! There is good on this globe. This is where I connect the dots between our scripture above and The Practice of Gratitude. In all the events this fall, natural and human-made disasters, we saw people acting bravely. Good people risked their lives for others. We’ve read of generosity beyond measure. The goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living, we do not need to mine deep to discover it.

When I focus on the negative and heartbreaking, and the world my boys face, I lose heart. Therefore, the antidote is a practice of gratitude.

As I have shared in earlier blogs, I keep a journal where I record my gratitude. As of today, I have a list of 5,146. Here’s a few from my list this week: apple pie, four boys together for Thanksgiving, didn’t have to drive today, phone time with sis, health insurance, breath in my lungs, friendship with Sarah, orange/red/purple leaves, yellow/green butterflies in my yard… I wait on Him here as I jot down sweet blessings. He fills me with the courage to face the scary. Oh, how God strengthens my heart. Every. Single. Day.

Intentional gratitude changed my life.

Intentional gratitude changes my days.

Do not lose heart, my friend. Wait on God, be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart. I challenge you to record your gratefulness. Mine for the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living. It will change your life. It will change your days.

“How precious are My children who remember to thank Me at all times. They can walk through the darkest days with joy in their hearts because they know that the Light of My Presence is still shining on them.”

~Jesus Calling

Photo by Magda Fou on Unsplash

Harvey, Irma, Earthquakes, and Fires… 5 Points to Ponder

September 12, 2017 By Kristin Saatzer 1 Comment

Normalcy decimated.

I attempt to empathize with the victims of these recent disasters. However, I can’t get my proverbial feet into their shoes.

Yet I try. And I pray.

Each day my family overflows with gratefulness as we compare our lot to “theirs”. It is unfair: our dry home, family pictures intact, beds, food, school work, dishes, laundry, traffic. Ordinary.

Why God? Why?

In our pre-heaven life, will we fully understand why God allows affliction? Probably not. What I do know is He tells us we will experience trials and loss (see John 16:33). He also tells us there is great gain in knowing and trusting Him in these times. “...The testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2

Millions in our country (and beyond) are experiencing nature’s worst. As I have prayed over people affected, I have reflected. May I share my thoughts with you today? I think you’ll find encouragement.Continue Reading