Why The Space Between Raindrops?
The short answer... Gratitude Recognition.
The full length version...
Our family, like many I have discovered, was growing into a heightened state of negative thinking; negative reaction, negative opinion, negative action. Teenagers, long work hours and social pressures were all contributing, creating a breeding ground of contempt for optimism.
After months of struggling against the storm I decided one evening to embrace it. To recognize that misery, conflict and misfortune were raining down upon us. "Into every life a little rain must fall" right? But rain doesn't just spontaneously douse us, it falls drop by drop. There is space between those drops where the air is dry and hints of sunshine can be felt if you focus on it. So that's what we did.
I made a rule; the "Gratitude Rule". Every evening with our meal right after grace and before the first morsel is consumed, everyone must have a "Gratitude", something positive to note from the day.
It can be anything... and on those particularly horrid days it has been as simple as "I didn't run out of gas on my way home from work" or "my favorite shirt was clean this morning." Some days the Gratefuls are huge and can't be contained, sometimes there are two or three from a single person. The only rule is you have to have one and everyone seated at the table must participate, even if it is your boyfriend's first time having diner with your insane family.
The Gratitude Rule has become the strength in our daily lives a powerful force in transforming our family and our individual lives. To be quite honest since instituting the rule nothing has been the same... Gratitude for that!
I started recording the effects of gratitude in The Space Between Raindrops about 1 year into the rule. This blog is the space where I share what has passed though The Space Between Our Raindrops... and perhaps inspire some positive thought for those stuck in a storm of their own.
