Blessed

Blessing isn’t when good things happen; it’s when GOD things happen.

Our pastor said this months ago, and I wrote it down on one of the many pieces of crumpled up paper in my purse. Then promptly lost it in the never-ending black hole. But I’ve thought about it almost everyday for the last couple of months.

I don’t know about you, but I’m often guilty of responding to compliments with, “Oh, we’re so blessed!” Or even doing what I like to call Christian Bragging. Listing my latest accomplishments on social media, but throwing in “I’m so blessed.” That way I’m not really bragging. I mean, I’m just bragging on God’s behalf, you know? 🙂 Don’t get me wrong. I am blessed when good things happen in my life. But I’m also blessed when a big ‘ole crap storm blows in. And I’m starting to realize that, for me, blessings are sometimes even easier to see when everything stinks. It’s great to go on an amazing vacation, or get a really thoughtful gift from Anderson, or have my work published somewhere. It really is! And I do see every good thing that happens in my life as a gift from God. But what about when my husband walks in the kitchen and says, “I got laid off today” or when the doctor says, “We need to run more tests.” I’m not as eager to share that stuff on Facebook and say, “We’re so blessed!” But God is just as good in those times as he is in the happy ones. And it’s in those hard seasons that I am completely focused on my creator. And I don’t miss the GOD things happening in my life every single day like I often do when things are sailing along just fine. I’m blessed, because my loving God shows up in the crappiest of crappy times and reminds me that he’s here. He has a plan. And he will not forsake me. Period!

I do have some happy news to share. Anderson got a new job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that enough exclamation points? And he’s doing something he’s always wanted to do. We thought there wasn’t much to offer in the specific field here in Jacksonville and really assumed we’d have to move for him to find a job like this. But once again, God stepped in and completely shocked us. I guess we shouldn’t be shocked anymore, but our faith is so small! God is teaching me so much right now. About gratitude in every situation, about doubt, about prayer, and about his unconditional love for me. I want to share a bunch with you here, but I don’t want to throw up on you all at once. 🙂

So, on a lighter note… we’ve been spending a ton of time outside lately. Dinner on the picnic table (in our bathing suits) is pretty much a regular. And it’s supposed to be almost 90 degrees today. That means it must be springtime in Florida.

Happy Weekend!