Intentional Gratitude
The sunrise was absolutely stunning this morning!
I initially took a picture through the window, but that did not do justice to the colors in the sky, so I braved the 24-degree temperature and stepped outside. I think it was worth it! By the time the kids and I left for school the sun was much higher in the sky and the colors had faded.
Each morning that I am met with the beauty of the sunrise I can’t help but stop and thank God. I have learned the practice of intentional gratitude which has become a habit. It is easy to get wrapped up in our thoughts and busy lives and miss the simple yet profound messages of peace surrounding us. You may be in a difficult season, but I promise your perspective will change when gratitude becomes a habit.
We are entering the season of intentional family time coupled with busy, hurried schedules. Grief feels heavier this time of year. The memories we had have morphed and we are now creating new memories, all the while holding tight to the past. Preserving memories is important. It is also important to recognize the time and space in front of us and allow our current season to be filled with joy during our challenging circumstances. I may sound like a broken record at this point, but this reminder will never be lost. Joy and sorrow can and should coexist.
God is faithful even when He feels distant or absent. Without fail, I am going to reference a song that our family loves and our children feel strongly connected to. It is called, Faithfully, by (none other than) TobyMac.
“It's been a long year, it almost took me down, I swear
Life was so good
I'm not so sure we knew what we had
I'll never be the same man
I'll never feel like I felt before (felt before)
It's been a hard year, it almost took me down
But when my world broke into pieces
You were there faithfully
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You made a way for me
I may never be the same man
But I'm a man who still believes
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You were there faithfully
I've had a hard time
Findin' the blue in the skies above me
And if I'm keepin' it real
I've been half-faking the happy they see
I may look like the same man
But I'm half the man I was (half the man I was)
It's been a hard year, it almost took me down
But when my world broke into pieces
You were there faithfully
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You made a way for me
I may never be the same man
But I'm a man who still believes
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You were there faithfully
In my darkest hour, You met me
So quietly, so gently
You said you'd never leave
And You stood by Your word
So quietly, so gently
In all my pain, You met me
You said You'd never leave
And You stood by Your word
'Cause when my world broke into pieces
You were there faithfully
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You made a way for me
I may never be the same man
But I'm a man who still believes
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You were there faithfully
When I cried out to You, Jesus
You were there faithfully”
by TobyMac
We can probably all relate to a situation that broke us in one way or another. But Jesus is faithful, and He will be there no matter how far we go. Let’s practice gratitude every day.
If you struggle to find the joy in your day, look toward the horizon. Allow the colors in the sunrise or sunset to remind you that God is still here. He is still good. AND - He Loves You!
