Thursday, February 17, 2011

Gratitude and Contentment



"One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today."~Dale Carnegie

Years ago I sat crying in a group of spiritual friends and counselors. I was frustrated with where our lives were at. And let me tell you, I was wasting and still would and will waste time being angry at unmet expectations I had in life and people. A wisened person understood, shared compassion, but left me with words that would affect the shaping of my vision. "Some things in life are hard. But that is life. It's hard when people hear things like that, because then they want to go and fix it." I was hurt at the time, but they did me a tremendous favor. Eventually I was forced to increase prayer and just started to tell myself, "Let go. Trust God. Let go. Trust God. Be right. Trust God." If you know me, you know this has been a continuing life lesson for my heart and mind. But God provides resources and creativity and opportunities in ways we can't always see.

I think that's why this book has been a blessing for me. It continues to remind me in my up-and-down moments and up-and-down days to slow down, remember thanks, remember what's best, and life really does start to look a little different.

4 comments:

  1. Amen! And I also agree sometimes life is hard, but the gratitude does help us remind us to look to the now, and have a grateful heart...we ALL need to do this!
    Love you bunches!

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  2. "Let go. Trust God. Let go. Trust God. Be right. Trust God."
    So good.
    That's the heart of the matter, Dee. The letting go, which I thought I was so good at doing, and am now realizing I never even knew what it meant.

    Ann Voskamp puts it this way..
    "Joy is in the acquiescing."

    "Leave the hand open and be. Be at peace. Bend the knee and be small and let God give what God chooses to give because He only gives love and whisper surprised thanks."

    And this...

    "Are there times that a sense of entitlement--expectations--is what inflates self, detonates anger, offends God, extinguishes joy?"

    chapter 9, One Thousand Gifts

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  3. Thanks Maureen. I'll be thinking on that again and again

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