The Unexpected Gift

June 27, 2024
 

My yearlong reflection journey continues. Today, I had the privilege of connecting with a colleague who noted that every setback has been a setup for their success. Here’s my reflection from our discussion:

The Unexpected Gift

Today, I encourage you to look for the unexpected gift. It’s the gift that may be unwrapped because you were only looking at the loss or heartbreak. It’s the thing that may have gone unnoticed in your mourning.

It could be the thing waiting to affirm that all things are working for your good. 

Today, as I ponder all of the gifts that have gone unwrapped, I am mindful that it is:

-all of the wrong doors that never opened; even the ones where I was sure it was the job for me, the man for me, or the time for me 

-the protection that came dressed as rejection 

-the direction that was wrapped in a no, not right now, or a stop

-the ways I was denied the consolation prize cause I was destined to win

-the practice I got on the way to my victory 

It’s everything I thought should be one way that I later discovered was a detour for my safety.

It’s the way I was pushed out of my comfort zone, pulled into opportunity and forced to grow.

It’s my discomfort zone, my shedding and the fact that I can learn in a curve.

It’s every opportunity that was missed; misunderstood as mine.

So today I encourage you to join me in unwrapping the unexpected gifts, the ones we lost sight of when we thought we were losing but we were just learning.

Happy 2024!