Coffee Talk…

Every single morning I do the same thing.

I get up before anyone else, dark as pitch outside, brew my morning coffee, and sit on the couch.

Bible and journal in my lap, I start in my journal.

I make a list that begins…”I am thankful for…”

This one little thing that I do has changed me in so many ways.

I spent a lot of life not being thankful.

Yes, I may have been thankful at times, but a lot of the time I was anxious, worried and fearful.

Years ago, I would awaken with a knot the size of Texas in my stomach. I had a hard time eating some days, and I was just generally miserable.

Unless you knew me well, you would not have known it. I hid behind a toothy smile and trucked on through my days.

Gratitude has overshadowed the fear. Gratitude has filled my heart with JOY, the real kind of JOY. Not the kind of joy that comes when something good happens, but the kind of JOY that comes when life isn’t so great, but you just have this knowing, this faith…that it will all be okay.

I love hanging out with kids. They have true JOY. Most little kids haven’t lived enough life to be worried, fearful and anxious.

I guess that is why God’s Word says ““Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven'“ Matthew 18:1

My husband’s grandmother was the most grateful person I have ever known. She just exuded gratitude. Which is why I would always go and sit with her when my kids were very small.

I was an overwhelmed mother, and she had just the remedy…she taught me gratitude.

She was just so happy. She lived in a tiny house all by herself, and I am sure she was lonely at times being widowed for so long.

However, you would never know it.

Her face lit up every time we came over.

My babies would crawl all over her floor and she would just laugh and smile.

I want to give that gift that she gave me to others.

She gave me hope. She gave me peace. She gave me calm.

Life is meant to be lived this way.

I think of Jesus in the boat when the storm swirled around…He was peacefully sleeping.

As we spend time with families and friends this week, let’s be intentional about gratitude. Let’s be people that others want to sit by, and laugh with, and just feel at ease with.

There is enough pretension in this world, we don’t need anymore of that. We need peaceful people. Gentle people. Kind people. Grateful people.

If you need a little encouragement in finding gratitude, here are a few ideas..

*Start a gratitude journal. Today. It will change you.

*Tell God thank you throughout the day. Make it part of your daily prayers.

*Thank Him for everything. The good, the bad, the ugly.

*Listen to praise music on the regular.

*Read a Psalm a day. Read it twice.

*Visit an elderly person.

*Buy someone’s coffee next time you go to Starbucks or Dunkin.

*Go outside regularly. Soak in His Creation.

*Move your body. We were not meant to sit still all day. Move when you can.

*Get more sleep. Go to bed a little earlier if you can. Be the first one up to have some quiet time with Jesus.

*Start drinking coffee. Just kidding. But, I do love it!

*Do not be critical. Put a guard over your mouth and your heart will follow.

*Drink more water. Our physical wellness can take a toll on our emotional wellness. Being well hydrated can do wonders for our bodies.

*Smile more. Even when you have nothing to smile for, do it anyway. It will cause a ripple effect in your heart and to those around you.

Friend, I know it is hard to do some of these things. Especially when you are in a hard season of grief, loneliness, depression…or any kind of suffering.

However, gratitude is a big part of healing. There are many scriptures that will point us to this in God’s word.

Here are some to meditate on…

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" Psalm 95:2

Speaking of gratitude, I am so thankful for all of you. Some of you have been with me since day one…January 1, 2012.

Some of you are new here, and I am so grateful for your time.

I think of all of you often, and you are truly the reason that I am encouraged to keep going with writing.

Life can be busy and hard. And honestly, sometimes, I just don’t feel like writing. But, then, I think of you. My sweet friends across the screen.

Thank you for constantly encouraging me and pushing me to keep writing. I am forever grateful.

heating my coffee back up for the third time,

jill