little things

During this season, it is easy to experience the joy and pain of the Holidays all at the same time. I just got back from a long drive to North Texas and then back through East Texas, so I have had a lot of time to think...I began observing little things around me to remind myself of how blessed I am.

Fall colors. As I noticed the changing of the leaves, I was reminded that I have ridden the rollercoaster of an interesting season of my life and came through rejoicing! Things change, life goes on, and realizing the purpose of every change has given me unspeakable joy :)

Country. Is what I am...haha. I loved driving and seeing nothing but land and livestock. And once we finally turned on the radio, I was singing classic country songs with my momma and it was priceless!

Laughter. I sat around a table for a couple of hours Friday night doing nothing but laughing about past memories and present events. It was truly a blessing to see my grandparents so alive surrounded by people they love dearly and even hear some new stories.

Service. There are women and men in my life who have always demonstrated selfless service, and it is simply amazing to me. It seems like they are never selfish...maybe that comes with having children. I see the love of Christ exemplified through their simple acts of kindness from a servant's heart. So I have a new goal...at least one act of service out of kindness everyday. I know that it should be natural and happen more than once a day, but I have to build a habit and start somewhere.

Children and Senior Adults. It seems that when our minds are more simple, we appreciate so much more. There was some discussion and question about the Bible, and it was decided there are some things we just aren't meant to understand. I was with little cousins and also at a nursing home this weekend and just observed the simple faith the people in these two stages of life experience just from living life. What a blessing to have simple faith in the Creator of all instead of trying to logically explain and reason out everything...

Song. Music is so powerful, which is probably why I am always posting music lyrics, and my friends and I cannot go anywhere without music. We usually just end up making our own music, haha. I was able to sing old hymns with my grandmother in her room at the nursing home today, and it brought tears to my eyes. There are many things she cannot remember, but the words to "Victory in Jesus" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" and many others are forever in her mind. She sang those words flawlessly with a look of utter joy and peace in her eyes that I have not seen in a long time.

Surprises. God has surprised me with some amazing people lately. People I was not necessarily looking for or desiring, but possibly what I need. He seems to be reminding me of the respect and care that I deserve. I am in complete shock that I could be enjoying life this much at this point...enjoying it more than I ever have. One of these people has put so much of life into perspective for me, and particularly pointed out the difference between smiling and smiling with your heart. I think I would have to equate this to the difference between happiness and joy...think about it. You can be either sad or happy, but you can be joyful in happiness and sadness. HUGE difference. "Remember to always be joyful because you never know who is falling in love with your smile" (especially the smile of your heart).

Love. This word is so overused, yet so taken for granted. Only in the past few months have I made some key observations about the different types of love. I admiringly watched some heroes in my life who daily die to themselves for the person they love and never think twice. These couples have a love that exemplifies the love of Christ, and it is blatantly obvious how different the love they share is from the love I thought I had. It is the love that led them to marry their best friend and grows deeper everyday as they draw nearer to their Savior...the love that has kept them together for years. Always surround yourself with people you love and make you feel loved, whether that is family or friends or those who fit both categories ;)


just a few deep thoughts...go watch a cartoon or Disney movie or something now. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry CHRISTmas :)