Two years ago this month, my best friend (and roommate) went to Zambia, Africa for three weeks to do humanitarian work. It was hard work, physically and emotionally, and especially spiritually. When she came home, I was able to read her journal (with permission!) and cried much as I learned about what she saw, and experienced, and about the people she came to love. Someday I will go back with her, but that’s a post for a different day.

Each night, her group met together to process what they saw and did, and to regroup for the coming morning. And each night they had to share “one good thing” about the day. Sometimes the “good things” came easily. Other times it was excruciating to try and find “one good thing” in a place that seemed, at times, to be so God-forsaken. But eventually, “one good thing” was always found.

Kim brought a lot of things back from Africa — stories, trinkets, lessons, a heart forever changed — but this tradition of “one good thing” has perhaps become my favorite thing she brought back. It found its way across the ocean into our nightly routine.

At the end of every day, we each share “one good thing.” Sometimes those “good things” are simple like coming home from work at the end of a long day, or seeing an elderly couple holding hands while crossing the street, or maybe just a great hair day. Other times they’re huge like a family picnic or a grand accomplishment at work. Either way, there is always a good thing. And it’s this tradition I want to share … cuz today I have “one really good thing.”

And I mean “one really good thing” in addition to the “other mini good things” that happened today — like the fact that The Bachelor had a “Where Are They Now” episode tonight (YES!) or the fact I’m drinking some delicious chamomile tea in bed while I’m writing this. But this “one really good thing” … well, it is really good. And I have to share it, so that I learn it.

For a few years now, I’ve been telling Heavenly Father, “I want my life to change.” And then I list all the ways I want my life to change as well as my game plan for how I’m going to make those changes happen. Well, to say the least … not much has changed. Sure there have been some changes, some pretty significant ones in fact. But not “change” in the sense that I really feel like my life has progressed and become something it’s supposed to be.

Now I don’t know what clicked tonight. But as soon as the click happened, the processing of thoughts came at a rapid pace. I was driving home telling Heavenly Father again how “I want my life to change.” But I stopped, and something made me ask HIM what He thought I should change. I realize that for most this is not a major epiphany. But for me, tonight, it was an huge mind shift. And one that brought a huge answer.

I’ll be honest. I’m still not quite sure how to accomplish what He wants me to change. It seems almost impossible, and I do realize that “with God all things are possible,” but sometimes even in knowing that, hard things still seem impossible. But that’s not the point tonight. Tonight the point is that He answered. That’s it. My “one good thing” is that He’s there. Listening. Loving. And answering. And I know He’ll answer again when I have the courage to ask, “How?”

May we all be blessed with answers and “many good things.”

Tell me: What’s your one good thing today?

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