Hey friends, how are you today? How was your weekend? The past two days the Lord has blessed us with almost perfect weather.  The bright, beautiful sunshine and above average temperatures will do it for me every single time. I am very thankful for the warm weather today because too soon winter’s presence will be felt.  So today, I will revel in the warmth and the clouds, I say “thank You, Lord” for today and I choose to rejoice and be glad in this day.  What are you thankful for, today? 

Today I am thankful for the people I have the privilege to call friends.  I recently met with a friend. It was an opportunity for us to share our hearts with each other because we had not done that in a long while.  It was due to the banishment of time spent with anyone but immediate family and then afterwards life got in the way. I think the last time we met was about two years ago; wow! It’s like we had a lost year! Anyway, we met, and it was good to share the weight of our burdens with each other.  I was all set to bemoan about my lot when she shared hers.  There is a story about a man who railed against the Lord because as he looked around, he thought he had the biggest cross to bear.  He insisted he needed a smaller cross just like everyone else’s.  The Lord brought him to a room filled with crosses and told him to pick anyone.  He victoriously rushed to smallest cross, perhaps with the biggest grin, when the Lord told him, “This was your cross all along”.  Perspective, right?  

Today I thank the Lord for perspective.  When we stay away from people who can encourage and edify us on this eternity journey, sometimes life disappointments and difficulties can seem insurmountable.  Our problems can appear much weightier than it is because there is no one to share the load.  In this life, problems will always be with us.  No one is ever free of it.  But as Christians not only do we have our Lord who takes these burdens away and replaces it with peace and joy, but we also have like-minded people to stand in the gap for us.  Sometimes when we listen to their problems, we realize our trials are minuscule in relation to theirs.   

Today I thank the Lord for time.   The past almost two years have robbed us of time spent with family and friends.  Today although there are still restrictions in place, it’s good to have the time to spend with others.  It’s good to share our joys and disappointments over coffee again.  It’s good to hug and touch each other again.  Life’s little joys I took for granted before today. 

Today I thank the Lord for my family.  It had been just the four of us for so long that my soul rejoiced when my mom came for a three-month visit.  Her time here with us was enjoyable and busy.  It forced me out of the house more because a ‘homebody’ is what I had become unknowingly. Before then, although I loved my home, we were always on the move and as I look back, I see now that time with her was necessary not just for her but more importantly for me.  I think before then, I was asleep.  

Today I thank the Lord for the noise.  I never thought I would say these words and even now I wonder at my sanity. By now, most of you know I enjoy my quiet, I love silence.  Can you hear it? The too quiet; too silent movie of one’s life.  Sometimes the quiet is necessary to think to evaluate the direction of life. But when the quiet persist we have to ensure depression is not in its wake.  It’s too easy to slip when the silence perseveres.  Be careful of the silence, it may not be what our soul requires.  Lately our house has not been silent and at times I still find myself grappling with the noise.  But today as I look back, I see the necessity of the noise and I am thankful.  

Today I am thankful for COVID’19.  I know, I know! Really Brenda! Although at the height of this pandemic, I saw no good thing coming from it, today I am thankful for the perspective this brought to my life.  I was always in a hurry and always busy before then, now I learn to appreciate time and loved ones more today.  I think, selfishness and pride were definitely part of my journey, today although they are still my companions, they are not given the status to which they were accustomed.  

Today I am thankful for today.  Too many times in the past two years, I find myself longing for the past or gazing into the future.  I’ve missed too many todays.  I’m taking back my today.  The Lord has given me today and today is absolutely beautiful. Although the skies are covered with thick clouds, the Lord has blessed us with warmth today.  So, Lord, I thank You for today and I choose to rejoice and be glad in this day.  

What are you thankful for today?

Check me out on Instagram. Let’s continue the conversation over on Instagram. Follow my Instagram and I will follow back, just let me know in the comment section. I would love to meet you 🙂