Today…I will smile, even if it doesn’t come naturally. I’ll look past the trouble and annoyances and find reason to smile.
A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. Proverbs 15:13 MSG
Today…I will pay attention to those around me. Family, friends, someone I happen to see once…I’ll notice and see them. And I’ll share kindness.
Today…I will find the positives in my life…the good in the midst of the trials. And I’ll give thanks.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
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Sometimes life gets so busy, it’s easy to forget how blessed I am. Today I’m thinking about, and thanking God for His blessings I often take for granted.
The freedom to worship our one true God.
The means to feed and provide for my family.
Warm clothes to wear on cold days.
My health and the desire to exercise.
The privilege of working at my church.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT
What blessings are you thankful for today that can sometimes be taken for granted?
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It is so easy to look at our lives and only see what we are lacking. Maybe it is money. Maybe it is a lack-luster marriage. Maybe it is opportunity in career or ministry. Maybe it is friendship. Maybe it is a family.
For me, though it seems trite, it was just about chicken tonight… or my lack of chicken. My thoughts went something like this: This curry dinner would taste so much better with chicken in it… I sure wish we had the money to run and pick up chicken so we wouldn’t only be eating veggies and rice… We just don’t have enough money to get the things we need when we need them.
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You’re praying that this year will be different. You are anxious to see most of your family, but there is always that one person who gets under your skin and deprives you each and every year of the Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving that you can only dream about.
It’s true in every family.
The sister who always seems to be critical and competing.
The aunt married to your mother’s brother who continually tells you how to raise your children.
The grandparent who insists on telling the same unpleasant story every holiday.
The child who complains and won’t eat anything on the table.
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Rev and I celebrated birthdays last week. We’ve reached the point in life where we are thankful for another year, but cringe just a little at adding one more number to the total. Whew!
We were born just four days apart and baptized on the same day. Since the day we met he’s been my best friend. He makes me laugh more than anyone else I know, and his love for the Lord and our family is evident in every decision he makes.
Which is why there was another date on the calendar last week that was even more precious than our birthdays.
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This week, as I sat down to write my devotion for today, I paused to look out the window and soak in the moment of quiet. My kids were back at school after a very fun (and very noisy) spring break, and I savored the moment of stillness and peace.
And–maybe because of the gorgeous day outside and the beautiful sound of the birds in my backyard, or maybe because I had such a fun week with my husband and kids over spring break–when I finally began to type, I was overwhelmed with gratefulness…
And as I wrote, I prayed…
Thank you, God, for this day filled with peace, because it’s made me appreciate the moments of quiet.
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