It's wonderful to be home, even if I arrived to a mound of laundry and dishes and a hectic school schedule:) While I was in Denver it was very warm - hot even - and yet I heard it just snowed there on the first day of fall! Everything changes, right down to the weather. My mountaintop experience at the conference is no exception. I've been feeling a bit blue as reality rushes in and the Denver Marriott and chocolate mousse recede from memory. Ever wonder why a low follows a high, or a valley a peak? I think the key to dealing with either is attitude. Sometimes blessings have to be yanked from us before we appreciate them for the gifts they are. I remember all too well losing the gift of health for a time and it scared me to death. After that I began to thank Him for the simple act of waking up feeling normal. This week when I mentally stewed about my to-do list, I was reminded that I have the health and time to deal with a busy schedule. And His Amazing Grace to get me through!
Some of us are naturally cheerful. My mom is one of those people. I don't think she's ever had a down day. Or she hides it well:) JOY should be her name. I'm sure she wonders why she's been blessed (?) with a melancholy daughter. Many writer types get the blues. But there's a great anecdote. Scripture tells us to live a lifestyle of praise. We're to offer "a sacrifice of praise," which tells me we're to give thanks even when we don't feel like it, even when we're blue. He's working behind the scenes of all those dark days and we can take heart in that, if nothing else. And that's huge!
This morning I woke up at 5:00 am and read this anonymous quote, "There is no damage of developing eye-strain from looking on the bright side of life."
Can you think of five things for which to be thankful? I can think of fifty!