#Gratitude – I and Thou Reflections

The Joy in January – Part 3

Joy in the Deeper Meaning of Life

We covered joy in new beginnings and joy in the present. Now, let’s turn to the joy that can only be found in the deeper meaning of life. We begin with where we find joy.

Is it in life’s fleeting moments, like a fine wine?
Or a new sports car?
Or a high-paying job?

Sure, these can bring fleeting pieces of joy into our lives, yet they are short-lived. Right?

So, where can we find everlasting joy?

That is a much deeper question. True joy, which sustains and transforms, comes from the Source of our Creation. The source that some call God. In Psalm 16:11, David declares: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

This verse reminds us that true joy is not rooted in material things but in the eternal presence of God. We find joy by knowing, trusting, and walking in God’s ways. This satisfies our soul. Right? Maybe for some but not for everyone.

What if joy feels elusive?

Even when God seems silent, stay open to His voice. Be alert. Stay strong in your faith because God is everywhere whether you feel God or not. God hears your aches of emptiness and darkness. Rest assured, there is a greater purpose. We just don’t know what it is. Maybe this is what faith is all about?

Tapping into the Source of True Joy

Here are a few simple practices to help us tap into true joy:

Spend time in prayer and let God’s presence fill our hearts with peace and joy.
Let go and let God. Walking with God opens the door to everlasting peace and joy.
When life feels overwhelming, focus on eternal promises. These promises bring hope and joy even in difficult times.
Share God’s love through acts of kindness to others.

This January, let’s take a moment to connect with true joy. It’s easy. Set aside five minutes each day to thank God for specific blessings in our lives. As we pray, invite God’s joy to fill our hearts and overflow into every aspect of our day. These ordinary prayers of gratitude may lead to the extraordinary.

Remember that Joy is not found in what we achieve or accumulate but in who we are in Christ. Let us rest and rejoice in the endless, overflowing joy offered. After all, it is a free gift for all.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Let the joy of new beginnings warm our hearts, fill us with hope, and inspire us to find joy in the deeper meaning of life!

#January #Joy #DeeperMeaningofLife #Gratitude #Pray #Serve

Gratitude in the Disaster – Part 3

Gratitude is Action

Gratitude is more than a feeling or an emotion. It is an action. It is a way that we can speak our faith through our deeds. Through a faith-based lens, gratitude isn’t passive; it’s an active expression of love and kindness. James emphasizes this with the reminder that ‘faith without works is dead’ (James 2:26).

The faith-based approach seeks to put our faith into service. And we do it through kindness and compassion.

How do you show gratitude?

Gratitude Amid the Hurricanes of Life

There is no doubt that Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton left indelible marks on families. From the beaches in Florida to the mountains in North Carolina, the hurricanes left a trail of devastation of unprecedented proportions.

It was unexpected.
It was quick.
It was devastating.
Many experienced the loss of family members and friends. People lost their homes. Businesses. Livelihoods.

Gratitude For Humankind

Yet, amid such devastation and tragedy, so much kindness and compassion poured out from so many. Neighbors, relief organizations, and the anonymous donated time and resources to a myriad of groups to show gratitude.

Often, in moments of crisis, love and compassion shine bright. The worst of times seems to draw people together in unity. It helps us to realize how essential our basic needs are as opposed to all of the materialism that is around us.

Gratitude for humankind.

This type of gratitude causes me to pause and reflect. It reminds me of the thought that has been on my mind for a few days now…“Be the Hands and Feet of Jesus.” It is as if a voice whispers this to me as I wake up.

Christianity.com does a beautiful job of answering the question:
What does it mean to be the hands and feet of Jesus?
Being the hands and feet of Jesus means that Christ’s followers, past, present, and future, are obedient in their commission to preach the gospel and co-labor with Christ to love, serve, and heal the broken, hurting, and hopeless of this world.
Joel Ryan, Contributing Writer -www.Christianity.com

As we walk through the hurricanes of life, let’s remember to show kindness and compassion.
Why?
Because actions speak louder than words.

How can we bring kindness to our own situations as well as to those walking through their own storms?

In Part 4, we will look at how the Snowbird Coffee Cafe became the hands and feet of Jesus.

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving #Action #Hurricanes #HandsandFeetofJesus

The Attitude of Gratitude – Part 2

In the last post, we compared the ups and downs of life to a bowl of strawberries. Just as each strawberry represents different aspects of life, our attitude towards them can take on various forms. In other words, gratitude can be an emotion, a feeling, or an action.

Today, we will define gratitude from two different sources.

Gratitude is a positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative and is associated with several mental and physical health benefits. When you experience gratitude, you feel grateful for something or someone in your life and respond with feelings of kindness, warmth, and other forms of generosity.
What is Gratitude & How Can You Practice It? http://www.verywellmind.com

The first source suggests gratitude is a positive emotion. But is gratitude only an emotion?

What do you think?

GRATITUDE (εὐχαριστία, G2374, [1] thankfulness, gratitude; [2] the rendering of thanks, thanksgiving; [3] Lord’s Supper, Eucharist, 1 Cor 10:16). The condition or quality of being grateful; an emotion or sentiment of thankfulness. A warm sense of appreciation for a kindness received; accompanied by a feeling of good will toward the benefactor, and a desire to repay the favor.
Encyclopedia of The Bible – http://www.biblegateway.com

Gratitude – Is it an Emotion? Feeling? Or an Action?

In both definitions above, gratitude is related to a feeling or emotion.

How would you define it?

In the next post, we will explore gratitude through The Book of James. James would argue that gratitude is an action. What are your thoughts?

What if gratitude is something more? Something active, something that can change us and others?”

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving #Action

Berry Grateful – Part 1

Life is like a bowl of Strawberries

Let’s picture luscious fresh strawberries in a beautiful crystal glass bowl.
What do you see?
I see about fifty strawberries with green stems. Some are perfect, and some have leaves that are wrinkled or missing.
I see strawberries that are large and some that are smaller.
Then, I bend down and take a whiff and smell that heavenly strawberry aroma that dances in the air and into my nose.

In every bowl…

Every once in a while, a small, almost rotten strawberry gets mixed up in the bunch.

Just like our lives

Some lives have more rotten strawberries than others.
But what if we were to be grateful for all the strawberries, no matter their condition?
You may ask, how can I be thankful for the rotten strawberry?
You have a choice to make.
You can eat it and maybe get sick.
You can throw it out.
Or you can toss it out the door for insects to have a feast.

What do you see when you see a bowl of strawberries?

What would life be like without a few of these rotten ones?

Could they actually serve a purpose?

And, how would you define the ups and downs in life?

In Part 2, we will define gratitude and dig a bit deeper.

*Image Credit: Karen Arnold, PublicDomainPictures.net*

#Gratitude #LifeQuestions #BowlofStrawberries #Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving Mindset – Part 1

*Artist Credit: Gratitude by*
*Victoria Campbell*

The other day, I was in a Marshalls’ store and Christmas music was piping through the speakers. I caught myself humming to the music, and then I stopped. Dead in my tracks. And out loud, I quietly muttered, “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet!”

As I strolled the aisles, I noticed the festive and glittery Christmas section. There were huge bins filled with holiday merchandise on wheels waiting to find a home on the store floor. I pondered how we could convert this sense of abundance into a Thanksgiving mindset?

It is simple:
Thanks and Giving.

Let’s begin with gratitude.

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie

Let’s be thankful for who we are.

Where we are.

How we are.

And why we are.

Redirect.

Instead of conforming to the materialism of the holiday, we can redirect our focus to enriching our own lives and the lives of others. Which can be done by doing instead of buying.

By focusing less on the shopping gods who want us to spend our money on frivolous gifts, we can spend more time being grateful for what we have right now.

Who are the people in your life who genuinely want you in theirs? Who extends a warm welcome? Who reaches out for help or to simply say, “Hi?” Thanksgiving is the perfect time to center our thoughts on gratitude for the people and experiences that shape our lives.

When we embrace a mindset of thankfulness, we will naturally want to give back to others. We want to help those in need. Those less fortunate.

What can we do to help others?

We can purchase one small item when we go shopping and place it in a box to give away during the holidays.

Or, we can visit an elderly person in a nursing home who may want some company.

A video call to catch up with someone who impacted our lives and whom we have lost touch with might also be an excellent expression of gratitude.

By fostering a Thanksgiving mindset of both thankfulness and giving, we can truly celebrate the season in a way that extends beyond material abundance to a godly abundance of doing good for others.

But what if you don’t feel thankful?

I think most of us would agree that stress and anxiety are part of the holidays, no matter what stage of life you are in. Even as a youngster, I remember feeling anxious about what Santa would leave under the tree. Would it really be what I wanted? Or, something else?

So, I get it. It sure is difficult to focus on gratitude when life sometimes, just simply sucks.

I get that – all too well.

If the holidays are overwhelming, please reach out to a trusted friend, or a professional to help you navigate this time of year.