I remember writing a Facebook post in 2010 (I was 15 years old) and it simply stated, “So I’ve realized…I’m content with where I am.” Every year the Facebook “On this day…” reminds me of this post and it grounds me yet again! I couldn’t even imagine how this post would bless me years later.
On dictionary.com, content is defined as “satisfied with what one has; not wanting more or anything else.” Now I am sure that there are some people who would tell me that being content is actually not a good thing. They would say that it is necessary to have dreams and goals, and to pursue them. I do agree that having dreams and goals are great. I, myself, have many hopes for my personal life, as well as for the world at large, and I am consistently working on them each and every day. I don’t want to miss the blessing in being right in the moment and appreciating it for all that it is. Paul writes in Philippians 4 about being content in every season, through the highs and lows, and every circumstance. Paul reminds us that God is our strength and that in every season there is a purpose.
For me being content in every season is not a cake walk though. It is very easy to get caught up in comparison and wanting the next best thing. It is very easy to get impatient and be upset that my dream has not come to pass. I have been there in the past, and I am sure that I will experience those feelings again. What has helped me though is to practice daily gratitude. Each morning I wake up thank God for whatever is on my mind, and at the end of the day I do the same thing. Sometimes in the morning it is simply “Thank you for waking me up and giving me another day.” Other times I am grateful for experiences, or material things. There are times when it is really hard to find something that I am thankful for, but I just sit and wait for it to come to me. This practice has helped me to stay aware of what God is doing right in THIS moment instead of focusing on what I think I am lacking. My favorite experience with this so far is having something happen to me in the middle of the day and being so excited to go home and write it down on my list.
The other day I pulled up my gratitude list from December 2017-March 2018, I would consider that to be a hard time in my life, but when I looked back over it, I couldn’t help but smile. God was still with me right in those moments, and that serves as a reminder to me that He is there with me each and every day.
So for the month of July 2020 I am challenging my TripleLTeach Family to practice intentional gratitude! If you’re on Instagram or Facebook, screenshot the blank Gratitude template that will be in my story each day, fill in three things that you are grateful for, upload it to your stories and don’t forget to tag me @_livelovelearnteach! If you’re not on social media, comment below three things you are grateful for on the day you visit this post! I am looking forward to seeing how God is showing up in each of your lives!
Having an attitude of gratitude has changed my life, I know it can/will change yours too!
Love y’all!
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