In this season leading up to Easter, I am always so drawn to the newness of life we see in Spring. It feels so appropriate to look out the window everyday, seeing this transformation after winter, and draw the parallel of the newness of life that Jesus offers me through his death and resurrection. How incredibly grateful I am!
A verse that comes to mind often when I'm thinking about gratitude is Philippians 4:11-13
"Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." (The Message)
If you are struggling right now, if life has not been kind to you, cry out to God. Ask Him to help you in your pain and struggles. Ask Him to give you the strength you don't possess on your own. And then thank Him...express gratitude for what He has done for you, even down to the most simple and mundane things... Being content in our circumstances is a daily practice. It is never easy. And while we may obtain mastery one day, the next day (or hour!) we can find ourselves in an entirely different mindset.
Recently I was with the kids on a rather long hike. One wrong turn made the it even longer and we found ourselves hiking down a steep hill in some serious mud. Once we had made it halfway down the hill, we figured we might as well go all the way to the bottom. But then we had the arduous task ahead of us to climb all the way back to the top. I had been carrying Tessa in the backpack on the way down and was exhausted. Then Eva hurt her ankle so Reese took Tessa and I carried Eva. Working my way back up the hill, I wondered how often God has stepped in to carry me, perhaps when I didn't even realize it?
Gratitude and contentment go hand in hand. We express thankfulness even when we don't "feel like it" and it helps us in taking an inventory of all the "good things" to then find contentment. Sometimes our prayer might be as simple as,
"
God, You are there, You see me me and You care. That is enough for me today..."
