That could be me today as my weigh in at my slimming group showed a three pound gain all that wonderful food at the weekend... but I am not woeful.. I have accepted that its happened and am back right away on track and in the zone!
"Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
With all the flooding that has happened in Cumbria I vowed that I will never again complain when it rained when I was expecting sunshine; that day planned to be with my grand children, a day out in the country with my husband, a big wash day and recently a morning in Brighton with my son and his partner and hubby. The rain was so heavy we left without the planned walk on the beach with the dogs. My son was so apologetic for what he said was all that driving there to no avail, but we had enjoyed the drive through to us new country side and listening to ‘The Archers’ omnibus on the radio, we were a happy little pair!
In fact we were grateful for the time spent in the car just driving along together.
Then today my Women’s on line Devotions said this:-
Researchers have found that grateful people report higher levels of positive emotions, more satisfaction with life, and more vitality and optimism. All good qualities I want more of in my life. They also found grateful people show lower levels of depression and stress - two things I'd like not to experience in my life.
What's more, they found that people who write weekly in a journal about things they are thankful for, are healthier. They exercise more regularly, report fewer physical symptoms, and feel better in general than people who journal about neutral or negative life events.
Doesn’t that sound great for us optimistic bloggers, and I'll take all the help I can get in the exercise department, because I don’t like exercise at all and avoid it at all costs
Finally, the research showed that people who daily count their blessings report higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, and energy. Wow, the benefits of being grateful are remarkable and many! I guess that shouldn't surprise me after considering today's key verse. The Bible urges us to give thanks … all the time … in every situation … because this practice is the will of God.
As Christians, we can always find reason to give thanks – thanks for the salvation of Christ, the nearness of God, and the counsel of His Spirit for starters. The psalmist declared, "I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High" (Psalm 7:17, NIV).
No wonder those researchers found that people regularly counting their blessings grow happier, healthier, and more optimistic. After all, that research wasn't discovering anything new, but rather confirming the will and wisdom of God. God already knows how great it is for us to be grateful. Now "science" does too.
When I lived alone, before I met Mike I had lots of times when lit a candle at the end of my day and said a thank you for my day, for the sunshine; for the washing drying; for my garden; for the friends who had contacted me either by phone or emails I had received wishing me well. Just for my day spent happily by myself. So many things give me pleasure, books being my greatest. I think perhaps this is because I was brought up by my Victorian grand mother and without a TV. I spent a lot of time by myself, so I lost myself in books. I still say thank you for the simplest of things not just my family and home but the small marigold still flowering in the garden in all this wintering weather, the pansies and violas in my pots and the autumn coloured chrysanthemum on the window sill.
And my ‘me’ afternoon now to be spent stitching
It's up. It's down. It's good. It's bad. People come. People go. It's Life. I wouldn't miss it for the world.
