Blooming with gratitude!
I was out in my garden checking the beautiful succulent blooms and was reminded to be thankful that I am blessed, to see, to enjoy, all of God's creations. There is a common opinion that all succulents are hardy plants, they can easily be neglected and they thrive anywhere. Yes, some do, but most of these plants need to be in the perfect environment with adequate soil, light, water and care for their perfect growth. They bloom at the right time and even require the dead flowers to be removed to prevent pests from multiplying on them and to give more space for the new blooms.
In our spiritual journey, we need to take the time to pause everyday, to appreciate the wonderful life and the people that are around us. Taking time to smell the flowers, to listen to the birds and to acknowledge what God has done for us releases new faith, hope and joy. God's will for us is to be thankful, to stay peaceful, to walk in love, to give, to forgive and to repent our sins. The word of God mentions to learn to be led by peace, and this is often how we know, that we are in or out, of His will. Give thanks in all circumstances especially in our most difficult ones, and there will always be something good in everything if, we will search for it. Changing our focus to God and thanking Him while going through life, changes our outlook, our attitude towards the problems which then appear to be smaller. Make a habit to keep a gratitude journal and then you will understand daily blessings, His love and goodness, even more. On purpose, count your blessings big and small everyday, and this will really surprise you to know what God has done!
Are you focussed on the negatives and complaining about what you do not have, or finding something to be thankful for that can fill your heart with joy, hope and peace in the midst of difficulties?