Gratefulness

As I sit here at my computer, I am listening to the sound of the clock ticking in the background.  I am looking outside the window at the beauty of the sky.  I am feeling the warmth of the sun as it shines through the window upon me.  And, I think, this is good.  Silence.  Beauty. Warmth.

I love these moments that come when I can be quiet and just 'be'.  I don't have to be doing anything (although I am typing this as I process what I'm feeling and thinking), and as I pause to enjoy what I have at this moment, I realize again how blessed I am.

So many people are so busy, and even more are gearing up for the holidays to overwhelm themselves with things to do and things to buy and places to go and people to see.  But, do they just stop and allow peace to flood them.  Do they stop long enough to hear the birds singing their sweet notes.  Do they stop to gaze at the beauty around them, the sky, the flowers, the trees.  Do they stop and take a deep breath and let go of the cares they have been carrying far too long.

I'm blessed for at this moment I am 'retired'.   I have been able to have several moments where I can stop and see and hear and breathe in the goodness of God.   The thought occurs to me - how long can I drag this out?  Time to be able to just 'Be'.   I have said I want to be home through the holidays, but I probably should start looking next month.  Some days I think I need to look sooner for I'm not used to so much time available to me and I find I can get bored easily.  Not that I don't have several things I could be doing. 

Yet, I also find I have many things that I am doing that I didn't have time for when I worked.  And those, I feel, are good things.  Things like spending time with my children, my grandchildren, shopping for loved ones, planning meals and cooking, attending concerts, spending more time in my quiet time with God.  These are good things.  Things I enjoy.

I'm so grateful that I have had this time made available to me.  I feel it is a gift from God, my reward of sorts, that I can have this time to grow in Him and get my heart in tune again with my abilities to serve.  I'm limited, extremely limited, in what I can do for various reasons.  But what am I doing with the gifts He has already given me and made available to me to use?  I need to quit using my usual excuses of being too busy and focus on how I can be His servant.

What about you?  Has busyness taken over your life that whenever you are asked to serve you just can't seem to see when or how or what you can do?  Do you not realize we are called to serve?  Whether it be to serve in any capacity at a church (greeter?), to help serve (Food Bank?), be available (do I hear children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews?),  to prepare a meal (is someone in need of encouragement?), or just to listen (is someone hurting that just sitting and holding their hand is what is needed?), we all can be used. 

I think of my little sister struggling to get her life back after the fall down the stairs.  She isn't used to having someone wait upon her, she is always the one wanting to serve.  God is teaching her some things; I pray she sits back and listens.   Family can encourage her to not give up.

I think of my daughter-in-law's mother and what she is going through on a daily basis with a loved one, and the recent loss of her sister.  My heart aches for her.  I don't know if I could endure what she is experiencing.   She is living her Christian walk by serving her loved one.  Her children raise up and call her Blessed, for that is what she is.  She is an inspiration to me.  Her children encourage and love her.

I think of my neighbor who is daily put in a chair to watch TV.  After leading a very active life, in her 30's was stricken with MS and has not been able to walk in over 20 years. She has a caretaker who watches over her and serves her every need.  Her children have deserted her for they are of the world and want only what they can take from her.   We both love chocolate.  Our conversations are interesting.  She never feels sorry for herself.  She has friends who stop by occasionally and bring her things. 

I think of many friends and family members who have much going on in their lives.  Perhaps their spouses are not doing well, their own jobs are difficult, money seems to be non-existent, they feel very much alone.  I think we all have friends and family somewhere in our lives like that.   Learn to serve by being an encourager, a listener, a servant.  Be grateful that you can.   Give of what God has blessed you with.

I am grateful to God for so many things.  Sometimes He has to shake me up to get my attention in some areas, and I give Him permission to do so.  Each struggle that He allows me to go through (usually each struggle is from my own wrong choices) I grow stronger because I try to learn from my choices.   But I must go through the struggle to learn it.

I am grateful because God doesn't give up on me.  Nor does He give up on you.  No matter what you are going through, whether it is because of wrong choices, whether it is because of sickness or results of others' decisions and actions, He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Honest.  His Word says so and God does not lie.  

Think about being grateful - and thanking Him for always walking you through the valleys as you head up the next mountain.  How great is His faithfulness to us.   Share that gratefulness with others, how can you serve them today.

Blessings!