A Heart of Gratefulness in Hardship

My Lord.... Dear Father, 

Thank you. I love you so much. 

Thank you for my pain. 

Thank you for allowing me to feel hurt right now so that I can experience your gift of love even more. 

Thank you for allowing me to feel anything at all. 

Thank you for being completely in control of my life, and being willing to take from me: totally willing to strip anything and everything you need to to draw me closer to you; for loving me that much. 

Thank you for teaching me to appreciate trials as lessons, opportunities, and blessings. 

Thank you for all the things you are going to be able to do with me because I experienced this pain. 

Thank you for my pain for all the reasons I don't know yet. 

Thank you. I am so truly grateful for the many thorns you are allowing to grow along my stem reaching up toward a beautiful rose. 

Thank you, Lord. Thank you. 

I praise you, Lord! I praise you for my pain! I know you give everything for your ultimate glory, so thank you for using your vessel in this way. I praise you for usefulness, and may I glorify you! 

Amen.