Much time passes between my blog posts and it is difficult at times to write as I have so much to reflect on. Today, this week, this month, my reflections have a recurrent theme: Gratitude. And more specifically that gratitude is my choice. Daily. I have to actively choose gratitude everyday. That is so much easier written or said than done.
In August Ryan and I went through an extremely difficult time. We discovered we were pregnant in July and lost our sweet baby at the end of August. We named her Lily Grace. Some may find that crazy - we did not know for sure our baby's gender, but naming her brought peace and comfort. In the middle of everything, when I knew something was wrong, I searched for hope and found an image of a gorgeous purple lily. I started wearing purple to remind myself to hope. To remind myself that God is still at work. To remind myself that Lily is with Jesus. To remind myself that God is the author of the story and that it's not over yet. Ryan gifted me with a gorgeous purple ring that I daily wear to remind me of Lily and to remind me to hope.
There are so many days where it is difficult to hope. So many days find me despairing, mourning, tempting me to become bitter and angry and depressed. Many days it hurts so much that I don't want to get out of bed. And many times I have to remind myself that it's my choice. I can choose to be ungrateful and selfish. Or I can choose gratefulness and praise.
Today I choose gratitude.
Here is a picture of my sweet one year old that I am so grateful for along with some scriptures and a quote I found this morning during my quiet time along with the song that has carried me through the past few weeks and months. Tomorrow and each day following I want to choose to be grateful. I want to choose to hope. I want to choose to praise God despite the messy life and world we live in.
I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
-Psalm 7:17
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
-2 Corinthians 4:16
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Ephesians 5:19b-20
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 4:6-7
Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
-1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
"To a significant degree, your emotional, mental, physical; spiritual well-being, as well as the health; stability of your relationships with others, will be determined by your gratitude quotient. Cultivating a thankful heart is a safeguard against becoming bitter, prickly; sour. A grateful child of God can’t help but be a joyful, peaceful, radiant person." -Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Wish it could be easy
Why is life so messy
Why is pain a part of us
There are days I feel like
Nothing ever goes right
Sometimes it just hurts so much
But You're here
You're real
I know I can trust You
Even when it hurts
Even when it's hard
Even when it all just falls apart
I will run to You
Cause I know that You are
Lover of my soul
Healer of my scars
You steady my heart
I'm not gonna worry
I know that You got me
Right inside the palm of your hand
Each and every moment
What's good and what gets broken
Happens just the way that You plan
And I will run to You
You're my refuge in Your arms
And I will sing to You
Cause of everything You are
You steady my heart
-Kari Jobe
May you choose gratitude today, too.
Be blessed!
2 comments:
Absolutely beautiful
Kara I'm so sorry and so heartbroken to find this out. I will be praying.
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