I have to be grateful.

romas 1212 - initforlove.net

So often you can sit and wallow in your own circumstances when things don’t go as planned – I know I do. 

Sometimes its hard to remain positive when others around you can pull you down with their own negativity, demands or mood swings – this happens far more easily than I would like!

Other times its hard to pull yourself out of disappointment when your expectations of others isn’t met – this is a big one for me, I push my expectations onto others!

There are so many things in this world that can make you feel down and instantly change your mood. Stupid little things that we know don’t matter in the long term but can change in an instant!

Often times its out of our control when we deal with people on a daily basis. Your mood can be affected just by someones response…or no response. It’s incredible!

I know I have to keep reminding myself to snap out of it and instead look to all the things I am grateful for DAILY!

To not let the moods of others change me – they are their moods not mine!  Instead constantly be that positive person who continues to smile and laugh, even through irritation.

With that comes a lot of patience and I’m learning more and more that patience is a habit. You have to routinely do it for it to become second nature. That may take me till I’m 60 or more, but hey, I’m still going to try.

For me, it’s also about finding strength outside of myself, outside of my circumstance and for that, I pray. I have to take myself away from that situation, find a quiet spot (sometimes a bathroom) and pray for patience, pray to be understanding and pray to be kind through every moment!

Its definitely a growing process and I’m so happy that I’ve realised recently that I don’t have to have the answers to everything, that I shouldn’t have to spend time anxious about situations I can’t control – I just have to;

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” Romans 12:12 NIV

hi i'm finley

one day [a grateful heart]

one day, a grateful heart - in it for love

…one day i will have a house that will be filled with random bursts of laughter and non stop giggles

…one day there will be big brown eyes that look just like my husbands staring back at me

…one day there will be awkward moments in trying to put in a car seat or pull open a stroller

…one day i’ll realise what its like to want to protect something to the ends of the earth

…one day my husband and i will see love looking back at us and feel more connected than ever

…one day we will be able to pass on all our knowledge, thoughts and beliefs to our next generation

…one day i’ll be able to share all the recipes and tastes that i love

…one day my heart will be more full than i ever imagined

…one day i’ll know the incredible miracle of life our Lord created

But for now, in this day, i’m thankful for what i have. Right now, I’m excited to know what could come when I’m already so completely happy in what I have!

Today I’m grateful that I can fully appreciate what I don’t have, to in turn be thankful for what I do have. Today I’m proud that my Lord and Saviour has filled me with hope and happiness in the now.  For the shelter over my head, the food in my stomach and the love in my heart.

That at this point in time, I am enjoying the here, the now and living in the moment! I thank God that I am here and that I have a voice that can say, today I am thankful that the  ‘one day’ will happen, and that it will happen with Christ!

hi i'm finley

> A Grateful Heart | Ember Grey

a light in the morning [a grateful heart]

psalm 18:28-29 NIV

Wow that weekend went fast! Definitely needing another day after that big weekend!

But it was wonderful spending it with lots of family and being thankful for the wonderful gift that is a mother!

Mothers Day has never really worried me AT ALL it’s an absolutely beautiful day to honor beautiful women.  But I went to bed Sunday night feeling heavy. A horrible heavy feeling of want and lust swept over me as I wished all the things that Mothers Day represents to be mine.

I went to bed feeling not just physically exhausted from a long day but emotionally exhausted from just being tired of it all, of all the waiting.

I woke up this morning, really flat.  Dragging myself out of bed.  But instead of starting my Monday morning routine, I went straight to my desk….and opened the Bible.

Opening a few pages and skimming through a couple of verses in Psalm, I came upon this….and it opened my heart back up to hope straight away!

So today I am grateful for quick sorrows.  I am grateful that my heart turns straight to His word and His promises when I’m feeling down.

I am grateful knowing that His light is my lamp through times of darkness!

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning
My God turns my darkness into light
With your help I can advance against a troop.
With my God I can scale a wall.
Psalm 18:28-29 NIV

hi i'm finley