Tag: gratitude

Is Your Life Good?

#inspiration, gratitudeOur young granddaughters were coming for a sleepover so we bought a breakfast cereal with them in mind. We are not fans of high sugar cereals but still wanted a treat so settled on Life cereal with cinnamon.

At breakfast, the girls looked skeptically at the box and two decided to try it. The other one watched and then asked, “Is your Life good?” Their approval for the Life they’d received helped her decide to try it, too.

The question made me wonder how I’d respond if asked how my life was. Some days I’m filled with energy and passion for life. Other days are more challenging.  No matter what a day may bring, I need to be content with the life I’ve been given.

Each new experience brings me closer to who I was meant to be. I saw a quote that resonated with me.  It said, “What will you do with this one precious life you’ve been given?”

My answer is to live life to the fullest and with gratitude. How about you?

“Above all we must realize that each of us makes a difference with our life. Each of us impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place – or not to bother.”
Jane Goodall

Remembering the Sacrifice

gratitude, honour, heroesNovember 11 is known as Remembrance Day in Canada. This date marks the anniversary of the official end of World War 1in 1918. The day is set aside to honour the brave men and women who serve in the military. Ceremonies are held to commemorate the sacrifices made in armed conflict.

Wearing a poppy and observing two minutes of silence on the eleventh hour of the eleventh month is not enough. They deserve much more than one minute or one day of our thanks. Countless numbers have given their lives and many more have suffered serious injuries and great emotional scars.

These men and women know the risks when they sign up. Out of love for their country and for mankind, they put their lives on the line for us.

Many of us would risk our lives for a family member. Few would do this for people they do not know. Others, like the members of the military, take this on to give us the freedoms that we so often take for granted.
They run into the dangerous situations that the rest of us are fleeing from.

We owe them a debt greater than we can repay. Let us never take our freedom for granted.

My deepest appreciation goes to these true heroes.

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” Arthur Ash

Taking Inventory

#God, #inspiration, #blessings, gratitudeThe past few days have been spent doing inventory in the gift store where I work. Counting everything and recording its value is a tedious task that we don’t look forward to. Nevertheless it needs to be done.

Strange as it sounds, the three of us tackling the inventory enjoyed ourselves this year. We worked well together and our positive attitudes made all the difference. Instead of grumbling and complaining, we laughed about some of the outdated things we came across. There were also forgotten treasures that were unearthed from storage areas.

The experience was not that different from taking inventory in my life. If I take the time to sort through my thoughts, plans and dreams on a regular basis I’m sure I will unearth many things of value as well as some that need to be discarded.

Old hurts, anger and regret have no place in my life now. Once I have learned the lessons they had for me I can toss them on the garbage heap.
The positive attitude of my co-workers reminded me to focus on the abundance of blessings I have received. Memories of love and laughter with family and friends flood my mind. Meaning and purpose have been added to my life in the times I’ve been able to touch the lives of others.

I find what is occupying the most space in my personal inventory is gratitude. I thank God daily for the love he has shown me. He touches my life in the quiet times spent with him, through the beauty of nature and the people he brings me in contact with. My blessings are something I’m always happy to count.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)

Giving Thanks

appreciation, God, blessings, inspiration

I’m taking Thanksgiving off and sharing a post I wrote in 2013.  Happy Thanksgiving to all.

The calendar tells us that it is Thanksgiving, and once again I reflect on the meaning behind this holiday. For some it is merely a paid day off or a day to enjoy a turkey dinner with loved ones. For others, it is as the name suggests, a day to give thanks.

If it truly is a day to give thanks, what is it that I’m thankful for? Although I appreciate the opportunity to enjoy a turkey dinner with loved ones, there is more to it than that. I need to dig much deeper.

While I’m at it, I need to realize that being thankful is something to practice consistently through each and every day. A wise friend told me once that there is no such thing as an entirely bad day. There is always something to be thankful for. Many in the world would be overjoyed to have some of the things that I tend to take for granted. A comfortable home with electricity and running water come to mind. My nightly habit is to pick up my gratitude journal and write down 5 things that I was grateful for that day. Looking for and focusing on the positive has changed my life.

Part of this is not just giving thanks, but who I am giving thanks to. God has blessed me, not just with material things, but with his loving presence. Even during the trying times, he is there leading and guiding me. He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for the wrongs I have done. Now I can look forward to everlasting life with him. Now that is something to give thanks for.

.. always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)

Lessons From a Nature Walk

nature pathWalks are wonderful for exercise and relaxation but sometimes I gain much more than that from them.

My husband and I set out for a walk on a hot summer afternoon. First we strolled along a peaceful path by a lake. Then we crossed through a field of clover where the only sound was the buzzing of the bees as they gathered the sweet nectar.

The scorching sun beat down on us relentlessly and we looked forward to the shade of the treed path ahead.

We soon reached the trees and were refreshed by the light breeze. Suddenly there was a swarm of tiny insects around us. I kept my gaze on the ground, afraid if I looked up, these insects would be inhaled. Although we passed through them quickly, there were several more swarms to be encountered as we continued.

One of the things I learned from this experience was that things are not always as idyllic as they appear from a distance. Many situations look perfect until I experience them first hand. The grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence!

Another lesson for me was to focus on the positive. There were some minor inconveniences on my walk but they didn’t dampen my appreciation for spending time in nature on a glorious summer day.
I need to remember that the Lord faithfully provides for me every day. His mercies are never ending and my gratitude to him should reflect that.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

Birthday Cake Overload

appreciation, God, blessingsMy son’s birthday was on a Friday and his family celebrated with a birthday cake that evening. The next day our granddaughters attended a birthday party for a friend and of course there was cake.

We had a birthday dinner for our son that evening. Naturally we ended the meal with a birthday cake. The next day their family went to celebrate the other grandfather’s birthday and more cake was served.

When company dropped into their home the following day, the remaining cake was brought out. The girls looked at it and said, “Not more cake.” These children who normally loved cake had had their fill. It was no longer a treat.

The saying too much of a good thing comes to mind. Even something that normally causes excitement loses its interest when it is always available.

This is true in all life circumstances. I have learned that when something is plentiful there is a tendency to take it for granted. The appreciation I once held is no longer there. God provides many blessings in my life. Instead of grumbling like the Israelites that I want something different, I need to thank him for what I have. He is the one that can satisfy all of my needs.

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3 NLT

Remembrance Day

November 11th is known as Remembrance Day in Canada. In other countries it is called Armistice Day or Poppy Day. This date marks the anniversary of the official end of World War 1 on November 11, 1918. As a holiday, the day commemorates the sacrifices made in armed conflicts. Countless numbers have given their lives. Many more have suffered serious injuries and great emotional scars.

The sacrifice that so many have paid to ensure a better life for those who followed is overwhelming. That is why on this day and for weeks before, people can been seen wearing artificial poppies as a symbol of remembrance. There is also a period of silence at the eleventh hour to remember these sacrifices. Many areas have commemoration ceremonies and military parades. Those who made the sacrifices are remembered and appreciated. Among those I will be honoring will be my father and father-in-law, who both fought in World War 2.

While I am remembering those sacrifices, I also need to remember the greatest sacrifice of all. Jesus gave his life so that I may have the opportunity to spend eternity with him. He paid the penalty for my sins so that I may be forgiven. He knew what the outcome would be, but carried it through because of his great love. This is something I did not deserve. This gift is something to thank him for each and every day.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 NIV

Giving Thanks

Thank-You-Kids-The calendar tells us that it is Thanksgiving, and once again I reflect on the meaning behind this holiday. For some it is merely a paid day off or a day to enjoy a turkey dinner with loved ones. For others, it is as the name suggests, a day to give thanks.

If it truly is a day to give thanks, what is it that I’m thankful for? Although I appreciate the opportunity to enjoy a turkey dinner with loved ones, there is more to it than that. I need to dig much deeper. While I’m at it, I need to realize that being thankful is something to practice consistently through each and every day. A wise friend told me once that there is no such thing as an entirely bad day. There is always something to be thankful for. Many in the world would be overjoyed to have some of the things that I tend to take for granted. A comfortable home with electricity and running water come to mind. My nightly habit is to pick up my gratitude journal and write down 5 things that I was grateful for that day. Looking for and focusing on the positive has changed my life.

Part of this is not just giving thanks, but who I am giving thanks to. God has blessed me, not just with material things, but with his loving presence. Even during the trying times, he is there leading and guiding me. He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for the wrongs I have done. Now I can look forward to everlasting life with him. Now that is something to give thanks for.

.. always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)

%d bloggers like this: