Thanks Quasimodo for the reminder that gratitude is such an important part of prayer. I hope you have a wonderful retirement! My husband and I lost jobs, stocks, savings a few years back when all the scandals (Enron, etc.) were occurring and the economy was going south. But through those years God brought us to places we would never have gotten to. Sometimes even when we don’t feel grateful, I believe He’s working behind the scenes for us.