The last couple weeks have been full of Holiday festivities. A few trips fun and cozy weekends in North Carolina have proved to be just what I hoped….full of thanks!
The precious family and community I have here make this season what it is. I am happy and content….and that is surprisingly not normal. This season isn’t perfect. Ups and downs, highs and lows, the great times and the bad, they are all taking place. Something is different though.
Its a little embarrassing to say but I didn’t really enjoy my race much. Not as much as I could have anyways. Traveling the world for a year is what everyone wants right? Thats what people dream isn’t it? How could I not experienced all the happiness in the world?
I have found that the level of enjoyment you get out of things is usually your choice. I am proof of that. I am more joyful and more content in this season in little ‘ol Gainesville then I was most of the race. Trips to our neighborhood Kroger and car rides to work have honestly become so full of life. Why you might ask? Here are somethings I do to love the present and get the most out of it.
1) Set your hope in the right place.
1 Peter 1:13 says to ‘Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ To often we place our hope on things that were never meant to be given such a responsibility. If you are putting your hopes and your dreams FULLY in the right place, or rather on the right person, how can you ever loose hope or become discouraged?
2) Choose Joy
Surprise! You and I have a choice in our attitudes. Joy isn’t dependent on your circumstance. I am proof.
3) Open my eyes and enjoy the now.
Dare I say stop and smell the roses. I am convinced that there is always something good about any situation. Embrace the moment and start seeing the beauty in things. Maybe its goofy friends, the changing colors of the trees, two raindrops racing on the window shield, quiet mornings, a really good apple, whatEVER. Open your eyes and experiences the magic of things you may have forgotten about.
4) Worship your way out of your funk
We all get to that low point sometimes, I get it, but we don’t have to stay there. “In regards to the Christian life, one good shorthand is to say that since we worship our way into sin, we worship out way out.” CLICK HERE to read more.
This place of contentment and happiness that used to be so foreign to me is becoming surprisingly normal. Who knew?! Wherever you are in life and in whatever season I encourage you to try these on for size and learn to love where YOU are at right now.
TIS' THE SEASON!
