Thanks for Trials

Fleeting momentary glimpses of joy. Oh how lovely that feeling is! I adore it, and with it stress seems to disappear. I worked hard all last week and took this weekend to relax a bit. As if the cold wasn't enough, we had an ice storm on Friday, because of which I cancelled all my evening plans. On Saturday, in ultra-slow motion, I slid right into my garage. Luckily nothing was harmed. I watched it happen, giving up hope of control. I witnessed my truck move closer and closer. Oliver! I exclaimed. Look! We're about to run into our garage. That is how slippery it was. We were fine. The garage was fine. My front bumper was fine. Watching Oliver skate over the ice was the most scary. I secretly wished he had a helmut, if only to get him from the parking slab in our back yard to the back door, a mere twenty steps.

Joy... It's not been eluding me lately. I'm shocked as to how absolutely nothing is bothering me much. Even my current tenant, who is upset with me because I'm holding her to her lease as she wishes to end it early, is not bothering me. My truck. My bills. My financial uncertainty. My home ownership uncertainty. None of it bothers me. What I went thru the last quarter of the year, what I faced with my X, losing my home, fighting, crying, feeling completely out of control, absolutely nothing can hurt me today. Taking a tenant to court is a piece of cake after what I've been thru and the courage it takes to face that challenge is minimal compared to recent events. I didn't even get angry or anxious. It's about as annoying as a fly. Get me the swatter.

I often write gratitude lists and share them with a small group of friends. I write perhaps once a week. I write when I'm feeling especially grateful, and I write them when I'm feeling really down. It's important to stay in gratitude.

I still read God Calling, not every day but almost. I have it as an app on my phone now, and it reminds me to open the app if I haven't already. Here is an excerpt from today's reading which I thought I would share. Remember, it was written in the 1930's. Enjoy.

Thanks for Trials

You must say "Thank You" for everything, even seeming trials and worries.

Joy is the whole being's attitude of "Thank You" to Me. Be glad. Rejoice. A father loves to see his children happy.

I am revealing so much to you. Pass it on. Each Truth is a jewel. Some poor spirit-impoverished friend will be glad of it. Drop one here and there.

Seek to find a heart-home for each Truth I have imparted to you. More Truths will flow in. Use all I give you. Help others, I ache to find a way into each life and heart.

In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

From 365 One-Minute Meditations: God Calling edited by A.J. Russell. ©2008 by John Hunt Publishing Ltd., New Alresford, Hants, UK. All rights reserved.