A season of gratitude...

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others..."
~ Hebrews 13:15

There are some seasons of my life I wish that they would simply last, but I am constantly reminded of the Ecclesiastical presence of change, and that I cannot stop what is simply the natural course of life.

This morning as I spent time among the flowers in our yard, drinking coffee, and listening to the sound of a radio playing and hammering in the distance where there is a new home being built in our neighborhood, I was drawn in by the melody of the morning.  I like these moments when I suddenly recognize the Divine that continues to meet the dust in which I am created, and I discover peace.

It is so easy to allow for all of this to be overlooked.  Phone in hand, I could easily begin to look at my calendar, read emails, or respond to one of several texts that are waiting on a response, but somewhere my spirit there is the reminder to stop, and to consider the season.

A sunflower from early spring has already reached it's peak, and has begun to dry up.  Soon I will harvest the seeds and have already thought of the "perfect spot," where I will plant them, hoping for the promise of another season.

I am suddenly overwhelmed by gratitude, and I am aware that life in all its manifestations is a gift for which we want to give thanks. 

When we take the time to draw closer to God, we become aware of the abundance of God's gifts to us.  Even the sunflower from one season holds the promise of the next.  So often we are reminded of  what we "had," to not live with gratitude of what we "have now."

At any moment we can discover the presence of these gifts.  The things that inhibit our ability to have gratitude, also can prevent moments with God to be realized. 

Gratitude becomes a quality of our hearts that allows us to live joyfully and peacefully, even when we don't recognize the gifts of the season that we are in.

Stay in God's grip!

​G. Todd Williams (c) 2019