I recently came across an old list I made of some simple things that I love. And lately I’ve been getting a bit more creative with simple drawings and water coloring and decided to translate it into a drawing.
And I realized while doing this, that all these little loves of mine are stemmed out of love for God. Because when I put on those fuzzy socks or ride that bike or wake up for the sunrise, I am filled with that happy joy kind of love. And well, we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). And that’s not just people. That’s also things and places and smells and moments. It’s all the things at once as well as a breakdown of why you love each of them separate. I love those happy yellow flowers because God loves me. I love the stars because God has given me the capacity to love. I love witnessing others joy because God has shown me His love for others.
And I get to experience these things everyday.
And I get to find new things to love everyday.
And I get to cherish the things I love everyday.
Because loving things on their own, as silly as it may seem, isn’t actually all that filling. Being honest, there was a time in my life that I was really sad. Like really sad. And even though I was still surrounded by all those little things that I love – like peppermint creamer at Christmas time, and listening to Christmas music in May, and falling asleep to thunderstorms, and feeling sore after a really good workout – I still didn’t have much joy because I was trying to extract that joy out of things that don’t last.
BUT GOD. He has given me true joy. A dance around the room and jump up and down because of something so simple kind of JOY. But it’s not because of the simple things themselves, it’s because the love of those simple, perishable, things are now attached to the love for something and Someone Eternal.
So I encourage you to make your own list. Start with writing down those things that you just really really enjoy. Own that you love them. And then transcribe it to an action. Take that action and realize that you have a reason to do that action because the One who is Love, sent Love, gave Love, and shared Love with us so that we can LOVE.
So here’s my reason. I get to wake up and sing and ride and dance and twirl and care and laugh because God loves me and He’s given me the capacity to love.
So if you’re feeling down, or burnt out, or sad, or tired, or exhausted, or stressed, or anxious and you feel like you just can’t do it, you can’t hang out with friends or make your favorite dish, or sing to music – here’s your reason to. Do it because you love it. Do it because that love is a gift from up above. Do it because God WANTS to be HAPPY with YOU. So invite Him into your little happinesses and they will become that much better.
