The Silver Lining

(A Gratimoment Mug)

Simple moments of thanks……..or as my friend Stacy Voss would say, Gratimoments.

Sometimes the things we’re thankful for or find pleasure in seem silly to others. For example, our son installed a new toilet in my husband’s bathroom the other day and we take great delight in flushing it. Who could find joy in flushing a toilet? Anyone who’s old toilet required that you stand there holding the handle down for a good twenty seconds so it would flush. Now it’s a tap of the handle and “whoosh” – gone instantly! Dave’s offered to buy me one for my bathroom for my birthday next month!

Another simple delight was getting a gun safe for my husband the other (his birthday present) and putting our old gun cabinet on Craigslist. It went quickly, but not for the cash I asked for it. My first responder asked if we’d be willing to trade for something. Like what? I asked. I’d not thought about a trade at all. He responded with a suggestion that made Dave do a double take. He’s been wanting an air hockey table in the basement for quite a while now, for the grandkids, of course. (wink, wink) It’s in great condition and it’s a blast to play – and it was the answer to a desire of Dave’s heart. Can it get better?

We needed more yellow paint to touch-up, and I dreaded matching the paint to a new can, and paying for more than I actually needed. Upon searching my garage to find the old can – I discovered the can half full, even though I know I used the last of it the last time I touched up.

Or…..

Finding something you’ve misplaced before you go out and buy a new one

Finding cash in an old coat pocket

Putting a smile on someone else’s face

A great night’s sleep

A new blossom on your favorite plant

An out-of-the-blue compliment

A rainbow

Figuring out who-dunnit before the end of the movie (or book)

Winning a game

Making it to the ladies room in time

That first sip of coffee in the morning

An unexpected sale price

A hug

A touch

Your scale being especially kind to you this morning

A long waited for visit

Your favorite song coming on the radio when you actually have time to listen

A cool breeze

The smell of the ocean – or rain

A child’s giggle

Not being criticized by someone who generally does

A good secret

A lazy day

Someone else’s good news

Divine revelation

New socks

A great meal – that someone else cooked

Pajamas warm from the dryer

Eye contact with someone you love

Figuring something out on your own

What would you add to the list?

For all these things and so many more, I thank You Jesus!

Psalm 100:3 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (KJV)

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)

A New Year, A New Season

Another year comes to an end. Already.

 

I think this past year has been a year of waiting; sometimes not even knowing what I was waiting for. Sometimes waiting for a break from caring for my father-in-law, some of the time waiting for new grandbabies to be born and yes, another is due in a couple of weeks!

 

But here lately I’ve been feeling more thankful to God than ever, for all the wonderful blessings in my life.

 

On a good hair day, when you’re on time for your appointments and the perfect parking space opens up everywhere you go and people actually smile at you – it’s so easy to be thankful for your life.

 

But on those days when you have to hide your hair under a hat, do your best to cover a gigantic pimple, sit carefully all day because your jeans are too tight and you’ve got a case of the clumsies and everything you touch falls apart – it’s too easy to forget about all we have to be grateful for.

 

Why is that?

 

My friend Stacy Voss has the perfect reminder for me – the beautiful coffee mug (pictured above) that bears the tag line, Seize the Gratimoment! (Contact her here to get your own.)

 

Sometimes we need to purposefully look for gratitude in the moment. We need to focus on what we do have; we need to take our focus off the things that are bringing us down or “ruining our day” – and seize the opportunity to turn things around with our attitude by finding something to be grateful for.

 

This year, I promise myself to be more thankful and to discover what it means to “live in the moment”!

 

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19 NIV

Me? Complain?

Today in an exercise in being grateful, I paid attention to things around me in a focused way. While driving around to do my errands I sought convenient parking places and grumbled at the cars parked closest to where I wanted to be; then I stopped. Thank You God that I don’t have a handicapped placard to hang in my window – thank You that I’m able to walk the distance from my car parked in Timbuktu.

As I braced myself against the cold, shivering and complaining that my coat wasn’t keeping me warm; I stopped. Thank You God that I have a coat and I’m not out in the cold shivering like this all the time. A man stood at the door I needed to go through but didn’t open the door for me, “Some gentleman,” I mumbled under my breath.

As I walked into the building a woman on crutches approached the door so I held it opened for her with a smile even though I was racing myself to the bathroom. I looked down at her bare feet and shuddered, Thank You God that I don’t have a broken leg and bare feet.

I dashed over to the ladies room angry with my tiny, weak bladder, bursting through the door like I was on official business. Sigh. Thank You God, I made it in time.

I scurried up the stairs to my second floor appointment and noticed a gray-haired lady hunched over heading my way with a scowl on her face. Thank You God that I can smile at strangers and stand up straight when I walk.

I couldn’t help but notice that every single murmuring complaint was countered by at least one thing to be grateful for. As the afternoon passed I looked for, and found, even more things to be grateful for on the shadow of my complaints. Sheesh. Who knew I complained so much? And those were only internal complaints!

Thank You, God, You love me anyways. I’ll try to do better tomorrow.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. (NKJV)