As we anticipate more and more places being released from pandemic restrictions we are brought into awareness again that this pandemic is not over with Portugal being taken off the UK government's green list of quarantine-free destinations. People who thought they were getting away for some relaxing days in warm weather were suddenly scrambling to change return flights and feeling the pain of not only lost days of vacation but lost money spent as well.
In the middle of the ups and downs of this “end in sight but not there yet” time of the pandemic we can lose sight of all the good things we have today. One of the “Just for Today” slogans that is said at recovery meetings helps us focus today, I think, on a way to help us have a better day.
Just for today I will take time to notice the gifts in me, in others, and in my surroundings and let the rest go.
From the Bible we are instructed:
Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Philippians 4:8
Maybe we should even take a piece of paper and put those labels down the side of the page and note examples for each category. It’s always uplifting to look remind ourselves of all that is right in our world rather than all that is wrong. It's strengthening and life-giving to pay attention to what is changing and growing and becoming beautiful.
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. Psalm 145:4-7
As we build our lives on the unfailing love of God various gifts become more and more alive in us. We start to notice the amazing things God is doing, including wonderful miracles in our lives and we find that we have more and more stories of His wonderful goodness to share. It’s interesting to me how that works. Look with pessimism and negativism and troubles seem to entangle us on every side. Look with faith and optimism for God to work on our behalf and suddenly it’s like every patch of ground in our heart is blooming with beautiful flowers.
Even if today includes some hardship or struggle or we feel like we’ve failed and are facing limits or consequences because of our own fault, God promises to use each of our lives to show His goodness and glory to others today – and that includes our story of how He brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
Thank you God that we are Your people today, people chosen by You because You love us. Although we find it a challenge to believe, You said that we were Your special treasure and so with great gratitude we affirm that we are.
You love to do awesome things for us just because You love us and today we are going to take a moment to notice some of those gifts in our own lives, in the lives of folks around us, and in our surroundings even during this imperfect season of the pandemic. Oh Lord, give us eyes to see all that is good.
We are thankful today God because:
The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. Psalm 145:8-9, 13
The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:14, 16, 18
So just for today, no matter what else is happening that is difficult, we will take time to notice the gifts in us, in others, and in our surroundings and let the rest go.
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