Joy in Thankfulness

I’m finding that this blogging thing is harder than it
looks.  These last couple of days,
I’ve been trying to formulate a coherent thought that would make sense in the
written word.  I always have a
million thoughts whirring and whizzing through my mind, but putting them down
for everyone else to read?  Well
that’s a tricky business.  As I
contemplate things though, I realize that being honest is what I’m good at, and
really the whole point if I’m gonna make a habit of this.

So, I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of contentment.  It’s crazy because I’m the last person
who should be struggling with a sense of discontent, but as shameful as it is
to say, I lately have found myself always looking to what’s next and what I
don’t have, or how I can change my current state to move forward and make
things better.  It’s so frustrating
to feel that, and seriously, can I be any less ridiculous?  But leave it to the enemy to put
irrational feelings of discontent, envy, frustration, and depression where
there should only be joy, thankfulness, peace, contentment, and
faithfulness!  As I reflect on this
about myself, I’m realizing that living with my heart bent toward the negative
only robs me of the beauty and joy of God’s daily faithfulness.  Which is not cool with me.  So today I’m learning to re-frame my
mind, and take my thoughts captive-to see life as a daily gift, love my God and
my family, trust Him for our daily bread, and to walk beside Him through the
up-down-in-out adventure that this life is…and to give thanks.  For that is one of the secrets of the
Kingdom of Heaven.

“Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but
in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests
to God.  And the peace of God which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.”  Philippians 4:4-7

            And speaking of thankfulness, here are a few beautiful
reasons to give thanks.  Sometimes
I just need to step back out of the parenting ground-hog daily grind to look at
the lovely little people that God has entrusted us with, and remember how much
I LOVE being a mom and how I should never for one minute cease to be
thankful.  God is so good!