Monday Reflections

The last six weeks have been a whirlwind of activities and I'm happy to be back home! I will not bore you with all the details, lets just say I spent the last 6 weeks in 4 different states (more on that coming soon)! It was fun and a bit crazy at the same time. The last week was bittersweet as I was ready to go home and at the same time I was sad as it may be a while before I travel with Hubby. Why? I was recently handed the ticket to find another job. So I will be job searching for awhile here in good 'ole Okie. The reason I'm reflecting today is because I've noticed a pattern in my life where I don't really fully appreciate something until it's gone. Does that ever happen to you? No? Oh, well guess I'm the only one ;). In the last year and half a lot of things have changed for me: I got married, moved to a different state, adapted to a different life-style, got used to living with another person (who happens to be my best friend) and so on! I've been realizing there were so many things I took for granted and the sudden change brought out how comfortable I'd become. Being uncomfortable is challenging. I've found myself wishing for things to be back in my comfort state. Now with the recent job loss I had a sudden jolt of reality. How many times had I complained? How many times had I considered I would be happier doing something else? Now that it's gone I find myself wishing it back. It was comfortable. It worked. I knew what was expected of me and what was required. Now all that has changed. It's as if I can be unhappy with the present and then when it changes I begin to think I'd be happier with the past. Crazy, right?

I just finished a wonderful book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I'm sure you've heard of it or already read it, I can be behind the eight ball on these things! She writes on the attitude of cultivating a thankful, in the moment, heart of gratitude in Chapter 4: I only live the full life when I live fully in the moment. Wow. So simple and yet SO difficult to do. I'm purposing to not wish for what was. I'm not going (Lord help me) to wish for this season to be over. I'm going to ENJOY it right now. For tomorrow it will be gone. Reminds my of what my Lord said, Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself (Matthew 6:34). It's easy to talk about, Lord, help me live it. Next up I'll be sharing some photos from our recent travels. Stay tuned......


Love,
Bethany V.