Category: Gratitude

  • The Love-Hate Relationship of Anticipation and Routine

    Who remembers the song, “The Party’s Over” by Willie Nelson?

    Turn out the lights, the party’s over
    They say that all good things must end
    Call it a night, the party’s over
    And tomorrow starts the same old thing again

    I woke up today with this song running through my head. Yes, I’m weird like that. I’m guessing because it’s Monday after two weeks filled with Holiday parties and excitement, this is how I am feeling.

    As Christians, we’re called to live for today, trusting in God’s sovereignty and goodness. Yet, we often find ourselves torn between two opposing forces. The excitement of anticipating special events, and the comfort of routine.

    On the one hand, Looking ahead to exciting events like vacations, holidays, or milestones can bring us joy and motivation. We eagerly count down the days, imagining all the wonderful experiences and memories we’ll create. The anticipation can be a gift, giving us hope and something to look ahead to.

    On the other hand, an overemphasis on anticipating special events can lead to discontentment with our daily lives. We might find ourselves constantly wishing we were somewhere else. Wanting to do something more exciting, rather than living in the moment. This mindset can cause us to miss out on the beauty and blessings of our everyday routines.

    Routine, while often viewed as mundane, provides a sense of stability and structure. It allows us to form healthy habits, nurture relationships, and grow in our faith. Routine can be a means of worship. We are called to offer our daily lives to God and seek to honor Him in all we do.

    None the less, routine can also become monotonous and stifling if we’re not careful. As Willie Nelson put it, “the same old thing again.” We might feel like we’re just going through the motions, without any sense of purpose or passion. This can lead to feelings of restlessness and discontentment.

    So, how can we navigate this love-hate relationship with anticipation and routine?

    As I was processing this morning, a thought came to me. Whatever the Holiday or exciting event, could we treat each day the same way?

    What brings excitement to holidays and special events?

    • Creating memories
    • Laughter
    • Love
    • Serving
    • Preparing
    • Family
    • Friends

    When I look at this list, I realize, I can have this excitement in my day to day routine. I can experience what I love about the holiday or big event without all the work.

    I should be in servant and in preparing mode, praising Him every day. I can always find ways to serve others, being His hands and feet.

    I can choose to see the mundane of everyday life as a new opportunity. It’s a chance to love, laugh, serve, and create memories. Whether our family and friends are close or far away, we have opportunities to serve them.

    Technology can be frustrating and even a bit scary, but let’s choose to change our perspective. That same technology provides us an opportunity to love and serve others far away. To keep connected with them and check in on them.

    My praise is a direct reflection of the thankfulness in my heart. And, my thankfulness in all things needs to be of equal measure.

    Holidays and special events bring excitement and joy that pretty much smack us right in the face. But, just because they are extraordinary times and give us a rush, doesn’t make them more praise worthy.

    “So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.”(2 Corinthians 5:9 NIV)

    “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

    Do all things – even the mundane, the day-to-day grind, to the glory of God. Find joy in your day to day journey as well as the big exciting times!

    I pray as we navigate the excitement and mundane of life, that we learn to appreciate the beauty of both anticipation and routine. May we find joy in the everyday moments and trust in God’s sovereignty over all things.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Stop Looking. Start Acknowledging.

    Have you ever noticed that sometimes the more you search for something, the further away it gets?

    Sometimes, with the best of intentions, we go to God looking for answers… for direction… for guidance… and we get…

    Nothing.

    We get silence. We can be quiet. We can listen. We can be silent while screaming inside at the top of our lungs, “WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?!”

    We do all we are supposed to do. We follow the rules…pray, sit in silence and yet we get… nothing. We can’t seem to find Him.

    I wonder if I am trying too hard. If I should stop looking. And start acknowledging.

    I start thinking God has gone somewhere. That He has fallen silent and I am doing something wrong. That I need to search for Him and find Him. But really, I don’t think either of those things are true. I think I am just waiting for Him on my terms instead of His.

    I want the control. I want answers, direction, resolution. I want the warm and fuzzy feeling that I think faith should give me.

    I have grown up to believe that if I follow the rules of praying I will get the answers. Of course, the answers in my time and in my way.

    I long to know what He knows. I wait to hear the definitive word so I can step ahead in His good grace. And when He is silent, I think I’ve missed something. And I once again, think I need to find Him.

    Do you notice the control theme in there?

    I want. I look. I expect.

    The other day, I had one of those “Aha” moments when I was driving home. It was an overwhelming day, there wasn’t one thing that seemed to go right. I was tired of the number of things that seemed to not be going how I wanted them to. In the middle of these thoughts, I began taking in the beauty of His creation. I began focusing on all that I am grateful He has given me.

    And then I felt calm, grateful, and serene.

    I had been frustrated, feeling He was nowhere near me and silent. When I changed my thoughts and perspective, I got what I was looking for. Those thoughts, turned my attitude and feelings on a dime.

    And it was then I realized:

    I don’t need to find God. I just need to acknowledge Him.

    I thought He was silent because He wasn’t giving me the answers I was looking for. He wasn’t speaking to what I wanted Him to speak to. I knew what I needed and what I wanted and He wasn’t providing.

    He wasn’t under my control.

    But He hadn’t gone anywhere. I was the one who had moved. I moved from a place of being a servant. I moved to a place of wanting Him to serve me on my time and in my way.

    In that moment I stopped trying to find Him. I found the creator of the Universe who I thought had somehow disappeared. He is EVERYWHERE. I was just looking for what I wanted instead of what He was offering.

    I need to stop looking for Him and started acknowledging Him.

    Stop waiting for my answers and started walking ahead in faith. Stop waiting for Him to give me what I want ahead of time. Trust that He will give me what I need when I need it.

    I don’t need to pack my bag before the trip He has called me to. I need to travel the road He has called me to and trust He will provide for me as I go. I need to acknowledge Him along the path.

    I realize that He doesn’t have to speak to be heard. I need to start listening with something other than my ears. I need to listen to Him with my heart and soul.

    Walking in faith is hard and scary, and I can be okay with that.

    Because hard and scary is His specialty.

    He has called me to focus on the word serenity this year. Serenity is a state of inner peace and mental clarity that is independent of external events. It’s a feeling of calm and tranquility that can help avoid stress.

    “I leave the gift of peace with you, my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts, instead, be courageous.

    John 14:27 (TPT)

    My job is to stop looking and start acknowledging. It is there I will find the serenity that comes from Him.

    What is God calling you to this year? Will you join me in acknowledging Him along the way?

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Surrender Your Moments.

    As I prepare for Christmas , I am reminiscing on Christmas’ past. My parents were the king and queen of making special memories that I will cherish forever!

    If I had to choose my absolute favorite part of our family Christmas, it would hands-down be our yearly Nativity play.

    We had a beautiful baby Jesus that came from a church’s nativity scene after it had closed. It used to sit in our curio cabinet, and was so pretty with the lights shining on it. It became awfully tempting to open the glass doors just to touch it. In fact, there were times I would see one of the kids gently holding the precious treasure that was supposed to be left alone.

    When my kids, nieces, and nephews were little, dad built a small manger to hold the baby Jesus. While mom read the Christmas story, the little ones would each have a role and act out the story.

    The first year, my oldest nephew Alex had the big job of carrying in baby Jesus. He made sure at the appropriate time he would lay baby Jesus in the manger filled with hay. As years went on, the role of carrying in Jesus went to the next in line according to age. Each year, the plays also became a little more detailed.

    Costumes were made and the acting sometimes became more dramatic. Little kings kneeling prostrate on the floor (with no prompting from the adults, mind you… maybe a few chuckles but no prompting). It became a very big deal for the sweet children, and the adults! Often during the year there would be mention of who was in charge of the baby Jesus that Christmas.

    Christmas can also become a time when I have moments when life just isn’t showing up how I would like. As I reflect on the blessing of these memories, I also feel bouts of sadness.

    The kids have grown and now have families of their own. It’s rare that we are all able to gather together. I have lost my dad and youngest sister Sara to Heaven.

    I long to make those kind of memories for my kids and grandkids. The difference for me, is that they are spread out in Iowa, Texas, and Florida. In my longing, I find sadness creeping in and I am not living in the moment. The moments filled with blessings.

    I’m sure we all have had moments when life just doesn’t show up how we would like or envision. I think it also safe to assume at times, it feels like more than just moments! 

    Whatever I am struggling with, how I choose to look at the moments ultimately determines how I live my life.  How I enjoy the moments.

    Our life is precious. A gift from God. Living in gratitude and surrendering our struggles to God are the foundation of creating moments of joy. 

    I know it is easy to focus on what is going wrong. Especially when those things going wrong are the biggest part of our moments.  

    I have found the most powerful way to fight the negative perspective is to first show up. Show up with a goal to not focus on what is going wrong but focus on what is going right.  

    Show up and shift your perspective.
     
    How I perceive my life and life moments becomes my reality. How I see things becomes my truth.  

    What is your reality? What is your truth?
     
    Whatever you are struggling with, let me remind you, if you are still here on earth, you have a purpose to fulfill. You have memories to create and blessings to share.

    This Christmas, I am remembering to see the blessings of the memories I have. The blessing of having those I have lost in my life for the time I did, and the blessing of being reunited with them in eternity. I am also going to create new memories with those I am blessed to share Christmas with in the moment. Memories that not only I will treasure, but they will treasure too.

    People will respond to me based on the attitude and perspective I bring to this life. The attitude and perspective that I bring to each new day will create the experience of our moments and ultimately the moments of those I come in contact with. 

    I am learning to appreciate the chaos as well as the simplicity of my moments. That being thankful in everything is more important than being thankful for something. 

    The first step is to show up and ask the One who gives me everything to help me see everything the way He sees everything. 

    I pray that God will help me make that choice. I ask Him to open my eyes to see the blessing in the midst of the rubble. I ask Him to change my heart. To change my vision. To create the desire in me to be joyful when I am feeling lonely or longing for what was. 
     
    I surrender my moments to the one who has the ultimate plan for my life.  He is the biggest Christmas blessing of all!

    Friends, join me in looking for the blessing in the hay!

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Embracing Thanksgiving with a Grateful Heart

    Embracing Thanksgiving with a Grateful Heart

    As the Holiday season begins, families across the United States gather around the table to share a bountiful feast, warm conversations, and cherished moments. Thanksgiving is a time honored tradition reminding us of the importance of gratitude, love, and connection.

    For those navigating grief, loss, or hardship, Thanksgiving can be a painful reminder of what’s missing.

    I want to acknowledge the complexity of emotions that come with celebrating Thanksgiving during difficult times and offer words of encouragement to help you find gratitude in the darkness.

    It’s important to recognize that sorrow and gratitude are not mutually exclusive. You can experience both at the same time. It is okay to not be okay.

    Beyond the delicious food, festive decorations, and football games, Thanksgiving is a celebration of gratitude. It’s a time to appreciate loved ones.

    Cherish the people who have and do enrich your life. The ones who support you through thick and thin, and bring joy to your heart. When those loved ones are a memory, share the stories and memories. Have gratitude for the time you did have with them and the difference they made in your life.

    Thanksgiving on my family’s farm were always times filled with laughter and joy. We played tons of games, ate and laughed till our stomachs hurt, and enjoyed time with family and extended family.

    Then, within one year of each other, we lost my dad and sister Sara. They were both individuals who filled so much space in a person’s heart and soul, because they did everything with their whole heart and soul.

    So how did I find gratitude in a time of sorrow?

    Well, I have a lot of arguing between my head and my heart. Does that ever happen to you?

    I long for their hug, their conversation, their wisdom, their love (that is my heart speaking). Then my head argues with my heart. “You know they are much happier. How selfish of you to want them back for your own needs. They are still with you in spirit.”

    So, how do I get my head and heart to agree?

    First I go to God. He knows my past, my present, and my future. He is surprised by nothing. He is with me and never leaves me, even when I feel alone. He holds me up, even when I think I’m standing on my own two feet. He is good, all the time.

    Then I praise Him through it, because gratitude and praise unlock the fullness of life.

    Gratitude without expressing it is like having a present and not opening it.

    ~ William Arthur Ward

    I intentionally change my perspective. I express gratitude for all the years I was blessed to share my life with them. I am thankful for their joy and laughter. Thankful for the twinkle in their eyes, the dance in their step, and the song in their voice. I am thankful for their wisdom and teaching.

    I miss everything about them and am thankful that they lived big, played big, worked hard and loved even harder. I am also grateful that God chose me to be their family. What an honor.

    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

    Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

    So, this Thanksgiving, when you are dwelling on sorrow or hurt, when your head and heart are arguing, think instead of something for which you are grateful. I promise you, it’s as simple as that.

    You have to choose gratitude today and again tomorrow. Before you know it, you will feel the joy in your heart.

    P.S. So, why do I keep arguing with myself? I think it’s because I am jealous. God has them now. I am thankful He shared them with me as long as He did, my selfishness wanted them longer.

    Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I am grateful for you all.