"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118-24)
One of the things that I love most is warm weather! My favorite season is autumn because the temperature is perfectly in between cold and hot. I love the breeze; the sound of the leaves brushing up against each other; and the vibrant colors of the leaves on the trees. I also enjoy the spring and summer but these months tend to be more hot and humid, so I usually do more complaining about how hot is is during these seasons.
On my journey, there have been times when I have become fixated on all the things that are wrong instead of on all the things that are right. It's sometimes very difficult to make a list of what's right but it's always worth the effort because turning your attention to positive things is healthier and always brings joy to your heart. When I take the time to think about good things, I always find a smile come across my face. Especially when I think of something funny a friend said or a joke a relative told, or something silly I saw a toddler do, I start to laugh so hard, I either cry or nearly pee on myself! I like the feeling I get when I'm happy, when I'm laughing, and when I'm sincerely in that moment filled with nothing but joy. God's word says "always be joyful" (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Yes, it takes effort most times but again it's always worth it...isn't it? There is no value in being sad, depressed, defeated or hopeless. When you are feeling any of these emotions, you are not improving your health and you are surely not following God's word. I am guilty of staying in those emotions too at times, and I will never ever deny that truth. One of the reasons I started writing these blog entries was to hold myself accountable and to keep my emotions in check; it takes work! Nothing worth having in life comes easy! If you want better, you have to work at it!
In the past couple of weeks, I've noticed one way that God has been blessing me...the evenings have been so breezy, I almost forget that it's summer. As small as this may seem to others, this has truly been a blessing to me. I've spent the evenings sitting on my terrace, feet up on my ottoman, head tilted back on the cushion of my chair and just basking in the breeze. I've been able to hear the leaves as they brush back and forth and in these moments, I've found myself silently thanking God. Not thanking him for a particular prayer being answered but simply thanking him for life, for the ability to feel the breeze, to see the leaves, and to experience his power.
Today, I'm choosing to be appreciative and grateful for the good things that God has placed before me. I believe that there's value in making time to appreciate things that seem small and insignificant, as you keep living to eventually see bigger things come to life. As I'm focusing on the small blessings of today and this moment I'm feeling joy in my heart, I'm smiling and I truly believe that God is pleased!
Song to listen to "This Is the Day!" -Fred Hammond and James Fortune
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