Thankful

i’m thankful i was lonely
‘cause it taught me how to love
thankful i was hungry
to learn what was enough
i’m thankful that sometimes
i suffered defeat
‘cause it taught me how to get back on my feet

i’m thankful for the fear
that made me want to live
thankful for the heartache
that made me want to give
i’m thankful for the pain
that showed me relief
and for the joy that rose up out of grief

and i’m thankful i got lost
or i never would have found this holy ground
thankful for the cost
or i never would have heard this sacred sound

i’m thankful i was broken
‘cause that’s what made me whole
thankful for the sorrow
that healed up my soul
i’m thankful that i cried
‘cause it caused me to sing
i’ll be thankful when i die for the lessons it brings

Ken Zimmerman (2018)