The minute we walked into this house I knew it had our name on it.
The living room ceiling was two stories high, there were skylights and tons of windows all over the place. It was smaller, lighter, and brighter than where we were coming from. It was a bit like walking into a fishbowl. I could see us living here. The place had the bones. It was us.
I was enchanted.
The minimalist-collector in me decided early on that we'd only hang stuff that I absolutely couldn't live without. An print of an early Cape Cod map. The 'formal' photo of six little grandkids in bare feet. A few vintage needlework samplers. A beachscape or three. A hooked rug created by a dear friend. And a portrait of my great-grandparents, Henrietta and Luigi.
Pretty much everything else was given away ... or languishes in the basement seven years later.
Fast forward a few years. I came across this sign in a little shop down in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. And I couldn't grab it fast enough 'cause I knew I wanted it hanging in our home.
I'd been convicted of my tendency to whine. Complain. Grumble. I'm sure it was tiring for those who happened to be in the vicinity. The Spirit was definitely nudging me to acknowledge my attitude problem and choose to purposefully respond to life in ways that were Christ-honoring instead of reacting like a two year old to whatever didn't suit my fancy.
To become like a spiritual Nancy Drew, looking intently for every small clue, each hidden treasure, holding every discovery up to the light, and rejoicing right out loud at yet another found gem.
Purposefully cultivating a grateful heart hasn't been as hard as I thought. To notice all the simple gifts God sprinkles through each hour and to name them one by one. Sometimes I sound like Pollyanna, I suppose. But truly, my heart fills easily these days with gratitude and praise. Because there's always some kind of 'God-wink' waiting around the next corner as I live with expectancy that He will make His lovingkindness known to His children.
And as I focus on purposely noting and naming those blessings, my propensity to be a whiny-pants fades a bit more.
I pray myself to sleep each night, reciting every good thing that God has sent my way and offering it right back to Him. Therein is peace. Calm. Hope.
Linda 🔎
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things ... and the God of peace will be with you.
- Philippians 4:8-9
