Gratitude by Deb Bigley

This month, for our Stewardship column, we hear from one of our friends and members, Deb Bigley, on the topic of gratitude. Deb shares this personal witness from her life.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever. - Psalm 107:1

I’ve learned so much about myself these past few years. For one how quick I am to tell the Lord how grateful I am for ALL my blessings! But over time, I have learned to be grateful in tough times, difficult diagnosis’, physical pain and even losses.

I had a good friend and mentor, Marilyn, who had lost her husband to colon cancer. She then learned, years later, she had stage 4 colon cancer. I reached out to her when my husband was diagnosed with colon cancer. Marilyn’s response, “Do not be surprised by the unexpected blessings.” I admit I was first surprised by her words, and not long after learned how very true the words were. After my husband’s diagnosis, we received an unexpected blessing: we had secured a surgeon, who we later learned was renowned in the field. My husband had great medical support and after the successful surgery has been cancer free for eight years.

In May of 2018 my husband and I relocated to Arizona due to his job change. I was excited to live just a few hours from my sister. Then, in July of that year I learned she had a very fast growing, rare terminal cancer. While this broke my heart, I was blessed to talk with her every day and spend time with her during her need. Though, I did not recognize it at the time of our move to Arizona, it was such a blessing that we had moved from Minnesota, because it allowed me to see my sister so much.

When Covid 19 changed the world, I was able to keep my two grandsons (2.5 and 5 years old) in our “bubble”. Their parents work full time and the daycare had closed. I turned our house into a mini school. While Covid brought such uncertainty and so much death, my days were filled with purpose, much laughter and learning. I will forever be grateful for that time and the lasting bonds we formed.

In May of 2021, I had horrible jaw and toothache pain and received a diagnosis called Trigeminal Neuralgia. This condition causes many painful sensations and creates complications for eating. While I readily admit that gratitude is not always my first thought, I experience innumerable blessings: highly knowledgeable, kind, caring specialists and medical staff, and the treatments and medicines have greatly reduced the severity of this condition. Through this time, weekly worship with the family of New Journey Lutheran Church renews my weary spirit. I am blessed and grateful for this family of faith.

In gratitude,

Deb Bigley