Years ago, I lived in a small country in Northern Europe with my family for 11 months. I studied the local language and gained the ability to speak some simple phrases. So when I got to the checkout line in the local grocery store, I knew what the cashiers were saying when they would ask me time and again: “Klienti kaart ei ole?” which meant, “Don’t you have our store card?” My reply was always a quick, “ei” which mean “no.”

After months of being asked this question, I finally decided to investigate. I learned that the store membership card cost almost nothing and gave, in return, a sizeable discount on all of my purchases. It was definitely a bargain; no down sides.

All that time, the cashiers were trying to help me, but my negative assumptions blinded me to their gift. I knew what their words meant, but I missed the intent, assuming they were trying to sell me something I did not need or want.

I was several years abstinent at the time, but it just goes to show that God is never done with me. I see my innate negative bias more clearly now, and I am better able to spot the gifts in my life. And, believe me, I am inundated with them–beautiful, abstinent meals each day; a phone call from my grownup son just to talk; an email from my boss saying, “You’re the best!”; a physician’s assistant who knows how to stitch up a cut on my head; a car that gets me to my three FA meetings each week; a sponsor who really cares about my recovery—the list is endless.