The Power of Gratitude: Living in a Prayer
Sometimes gratitude does not come from everything going right. Sometimes gratitude rises after you look back and realize God was carrying you through what almost broke you. This is a reflection on moving, healing, motherhood, obedience, fasting, and the quiet miracle of realizing: I am living in a prayer.
I am in a place of thankfulness for the trials I have been through to get me to this point.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
Last year, when I had to move out of my apartment due to mold and management not doing anything about it, it forced me to move back in with my brother and sister-in-law. This was so devastating to me. I felt as if I had failed.
In addition to the stress of that situation, I was dealing with back pain so severe that I had many sleepless nights. All of this led to a breaking point of me waking up one morning barely being able to walk, and ultimately led to the discovery of me needing another spinal surgery.
It was a lot to be going through.
Losing Independence, Finding Room to Breathe
I resented that I had completely lost my independence, but I was also thankful that I had family to lean on during such a vulnerable time in my life.
Not working while on disability, life was different.
I was met with the reality of how little time I had spent with Cherish since moving to Dallas. I also discovered how much I enjoyed serving in church.
It seemed like the time away from work gave me room to breathe and re-enforce so many relationships that I had formed.
I had time to spend with friends who I valued so dearly. I was able to take my daughter to school and go have lunch with her. I had time to breathe. Time to create. Time to rest, love, serve, and connect.
It was time for me to reflect and ask myself what was truly important to me and what I really wanted to do.
How did I want to show up in the world?
How did I want to deliver my story to the people who needed it?
It was a time of creation and restoration.
A time for healing.
A time for connection.
A time for love.
A time for self-discovery.
A time to serve in spite of condition.
So while I was facing major surgery on top of a major life change, God was teaching me so much about myself. He was peeling back a deeper level of focus and revealing more of my purpose.
I was gaining so much clarity, even through the complications I had due to the surgery. Even through finding out I had to have emergency surgery, I could see God. I could see the testimony.
When Success Still Felt Unfulfilling
What I could not foresee was the way I would experience the doubt that came with accomplishing the planned successes.
After completing a 6-week Women in Leadership certificate course at Jakes Divinity School, having a successful first book signing, and becoming a certified Prepare Enrich Facilitator, I was left feeling unfulfilled.
Almost like I was still missing what God wanted me to do.
So I went back to the drawing board.
I started reworking the business plan. I started looking in the direction that pointed to purpose. I was moving toward the more, but still felt like my life did not make sense.
I began to notice the gaps in between me creating pieces of work, designing, writing, and doing what God placed in my heart and mind to do.
I was working, but it felt like I was running in place.
I was exerting a lot of energy but getting little output.
Something was still wrong with the math.
I thought it was the job.
It wasn’t the job.
When the Math Finally Made Sense
It was, however, becoming more and more obvious that it was my living situation that needed to change.
I thought the yoke that needed to break was work.
But the truth is, work isn’t THAT bad.
Driving 38 miles to and from every day was bad.
It worked until it didn’t.
It made sense until it didn’t.
The drive didn’t bother me until it did.
So when it clicked that moving was the change I needed to make, I jumped into action.
If you’re wondering if this revelation came after fasting, ding, ding, ding! You are correct.
God is constantly calling me closer, and I am constantly chasing after Him and His guidance.
I didn’t intend on moving in the middle of a Texas summer. It’s hot, y’all.
But God told me to move, and I am beyond blessed that I did.
Mommy Made Good on Her Promise
I promised my daughter that the next place we moved, she would have her own room and that we would move to a place that is just right for us.
Mommy made good on her promise.
The place we found is so, so, so cute. I look around and just praise God.
I give Him all of the glory.
It wasn’t me.
I didn’t think I was ready. All the pieces didn’t fit, but God’s plans are so much greater than our own.
I am living in a prayer.
The Power of Gratitude
And so I had to make this edition of the newsletter all about gratitude.
I am so full of it!
God is so, so good. I feel overjoyed and just excited for what is happening in my life and in the lives of my friends and family.
I am blessed to have such an amazing daughter, who won Junior Debutante of the Year 2026. I had to give my baby a shoutout!
I am blessed to have supportive friends who show up and show out for me.
I am grateful to have such an amazing church family who showers me and my baby with love and support.
I am grateful to my brother and sister-in-law who have shown Cherish and me so much love, care, and kindness.
I am beyond grateful for my friendships that have carried me this past year.
I’m just grateful to know so many amazing people in my life and in my corner.
And I am grateful for you.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for supporting.
Thank you for loving.
Thank you for you.
If this reflection met you where you are, I would love to hear from you. What are you grateful for in this season? And if you are navigating transition, purpose, healing, motherhood, relationship questions, or simply trying to organize what God has placed in your heart, I invite you to explore my coaching, mind-mapping, and strategy services through Becoming With L. A. Patton.