Grattitude

After losing the income of 4 students this week, my anxiety is building like crazy. I'm trying to do everything I can to stay on a spiritual plain with this goal to get out of debt. I am well aware that when a goal is set, 2 things happen. First, unforeseen opportunities arise that I would have never noticed before. I have already recognized this in the last 2 days. I count them as blessings, and little ounces of motivational blessings from Heavenly Father. Second, I am very aware that unforeseen obstacles also become very noticeable. Situations that are largely out of my control happen. The hardest part is that they may or may not happen anyway, but when I'm so focused on this ending goal, these things affect me a great deal more than when I'm just going through the motions.
I think both the positive and negative happenings can be used for a benefit. The negative is a test of my commitment and endurance. If I'm getting tossed to and fro on the 3rd day of a 13 month commitment, what does that say about my endurance and faith? There is no doubt that I need more faith. Excitement I have, but when that "sprint-like" adrenaline wears out (and there's no telling when it will), I'll need long-distance endurance.
One way to push through the moments of adversity is to find things to be grateful for. The family that just notified me that there girls would no longer be taking classes is the Castor family. Their situation is largely financial, but I can see there are a lot of emotional and health challenges in the family. Since we have known them for the last 2 years or so, the dad has had 2 brain tumors, and lost his job at least twice. They've almost lost their house, and have been on the verge of bankruptcy. Currently, I'm told they have no registration or insurance on their cars. The family has been through so much trial. LeAnn, the mother, told me today, that it's been a 3-year trial.
I've been sick for 2 weeks, and am just getting over the worst cough I've ever had. Yet, I still have a job, I am not running the risk of losing my home. I'm not behind on payments on any of my current debt. In fact, I'm in a position to throw an extra $400 or more every month toward debt. Will there be sacrificing? Yes. I may go without some things I really enjoy. But, I also feel like there's a blessing in having the option to say "no, I CHOOSE to go without and pay off debt." Rather than being forced to say no, and say no to basic necessities as well, and be desperately searching for a job to take care of my family.
I'm confident that if I can look for opportunity to build faith in whatever situation comes my way, whether good or bad, and NOT take anything for granted, I will not only get out of debt, but I will grow stronger as a person. My anxiety is gone for the moment. Thanks, Heavenly Father, for helping me through that.