Being Thankful for the Little Things
This weekend, Pastor Ross spoke about Philippians and how sometimes we need to be thankful and grateful for what we know will come - before it comes. And I know I've had many times in this chapter of my life where I've been unable to find the happiness in my life - but I can honestly say that I can't remember even once when I felt God had forsaken me.
Teaching me a lesson? Sure. The Bible is filled with stories of people that messed up and had to deal with the consequences even when they were profoundly sorry. So yeah... there have been a lot of times like that for me. I'd search my memory for things I did wrong - face it, it's pretty easy for all of us to remember when we did something we shouldn't have - and feel that was the source of the pain.
But I never felt that I was alone. Sad, in pain, isolated, punished - sure... all that and more, but not forsaken. Never once.
So I'm trying to be thankful for what might seem like the little things in my life. In reality, they aren't the little things they are the Timeless Things. Those things that are all around each of us that have the ability to make us smile... to make us stop and take pause for what they are.
This weekend it was the light coming through my bedroom window in the morning. It was just amazing. Simple, clean, just exactly how I wanted my bedroom to look, and with this amazing sunbeam coming through the white curtain I had hung my first weekend in the house, and spilling onto the bed. It made me smile.
Then later, I was talking to myself as I walked around the house, and when I walked into my bedroom, the echo changed, and it because what I can only really describe as "safe" and "protecting". At least that's how I interpreted the sound. I knew this house wanted to protect me... wanted to give me a place to feel safe and secure. Buying this house had been difficult. I had to keep fighting for it with the Bank. But as I look back now, it was one of the best decisions I've made in my life.
So there are a few things I'm very thankful for. The sunlight, and the house. I don't think of this as my house - it's more than 100 years old. I'm just the current caretaker. When I'm gone, this house will still be here, and it'll be someone else's. It's just letting me stay here for a while. I appreciate it very much.
Life is what we make of it. It's hard to remember when you're getting beaten up, but it's true. Some times it's a lot easier to have that view than others.