Little Blessings
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Floyd is holding steady. I am so grateful that even with the strong winter weather we've been having, he is doing ok.
I have a friend, Sylvie, who is undergoing intensive treatment for cancer right now. She and I keep in almost daily communication to encourage one another in our "battle." Sylvie made a statement recently that stuck with me. She talked about the blessing of a "feeling good" day. There are definitely days when she and I don't feel good!
Her comment made me realize how important it is to be grateful for the little things - like a "feeling good" day when I have one. It's made me more aware, more conscious of the little things I take for granted. I am directing my focus to the "little" things I have to be grateful for. As I thank the Lord for them - they seem to take on greater significance.......and I realize even more what a blessing they are. It's easy to look for, even wait for, the "big" things to be grateful for......but the little things are just as important and are just as much gifts from the Father's hand. I don't want to miss expressing gratefulness to the Lord for them. Especially during the stress of the pandemic, I want to keep my focus on all the blessings in my life.
Here are just a few things I'm grateful for right now:
a "dry" home
electricity (when it's turned off - I appreciate it even more)
I'm not a fan of rain, but I'm very grateful we're getting our winter rains so that we don't have drought again. The water shortages a couple years ago, when we hadn't gotten enough rain, were very difficult.
I'm grateful for fleece clothing - it helps so much in keeping me warm.
I'm grateful that groceries can be delivered! Such a blessing during lockdown.
I'm grateful for good neighbors. We recently had a scare on our street around 8 p.m. Within seconds, our whatsapp group was buzzing, 3 neighborhood men were out checking on things, and 2 neighbors contacted me to make sure I was okay. It made me feel so safe and watched out for.
I'm so grateful for our modern day technology that allows me to be in instant communication with family and friends around the world.
I'm very grateful that I am having more "feeling good" days than bad days at the moment. That is a HUGE blessing to me!
My list could so on and on - but that gives you an idea of how God is helping me see the little, and not-so-little, things in my life that are blessings from His hand. I'm so grateful for each one.
There's an old song that says "count your blessings.....name them one by one.....and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." As I look for the "little" blessings in my life - not just the big ones.....I am continually amazed at all God has done.
"Every good and perfect gift is from above." James 1:17
"God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8
"From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another." John 1:16 NLT
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Psalm 23:1
Sometimes my body kinda drags a little more because of the weather, but my heart is full because of God's goodness! I have so much to be grateful for. I am blessed!
The last week has been a bit hard for me because of quite a few factors… it's been challenging. I was talking to the Lord about it, and I felt He took me to something familiar and basic - being content in any circumstance! I certainly know that principle. In many ways I've lived by that standard for years - for my whole life actually, but it's good to be reminded.
When different, unusual, hard circumstances come our way - it can feel so impacting that we forget that basic principle. Paul tells us in Philippians "I have learned the secret of being content in EVERY situation." Some situations seem so unusual (a world wide pandemic) that it seems like there must be a different guiding directive for them. But, no - the same thing applies.
It doesn't matter if it's 1 thing impacting our lives or 100. It doesn't matter if we feel good or we're sick. It doesn't matter if we're alone or surrounded by friends and family. It doesn't matter if the weather is good or bad. It doesn't matter if we have electricity or not. It doesn't matter if we get good news about something or terrible news. It doesn't have to do with how much we have or don't have. The same principle applies for each situation - we need to learn to be content.
The key word is LEARN. It may not come easily. It may not be our first response. It may be something we have to actively work on. But it's achievable because God gave it as a principle for us to follow. It means we can't look back wishing for something in the past - and we can't look forward longing for something that's still to come. We have to be content in the here and now.
Contentment involves trust - trust in God's plan for our life. Trust that He will help us whatever comes our way. Trust that He is truly, truly with us each moment of the day. Trust that all the promises in His word that we stand on are true. Trust that His grace is sufficient for everything we face. Trust that He will give us strength - and peace.
Contentment also involves hope - hope that God is hearing our prayers and answering them. Hope for a better tomorrow in spite of the hardships of today. Hope that we will make it through whatever we are facing.
I'm still on the "learning" journey - with trust and hope in my heart!
"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:12,13
"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." 1 Timothy 6:6-8
"And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore I am content with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9,10
"A heart at peace gives life to the body." Proverbs 14:30
Contentment isn't something we search for and find. It's an attitude of our heart - regardless of what our situation may be. I'm grateful for God reminding me of this in the midst of a hard week.