gratitude

enlightenment hasn't been the name of the game of my brain lately (dr. seuss, look out), but i figured i should give the rusty wheels of my writing skills a turn or two, since i'm not getting much this quarter, and figured it'd be a good idea to try one of those blog series-type deals. i feel as if most of my posts have been about more dismal aspects of my life/thoughts, and so i felt that being thankful and rejoicing in the everyday blessings of my life would be, well...a good thing to do.

i was reading this morning in philippians how we are to "rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." my heart hurts and is filled with the awareness that i hardly ever do this. i worry about trivial things--about how i look and what i do and how others act; i thought today how paul wrote philippians in prison, and yet he was still able to rejoice, as well as commanding people to rejoice. truly incredible.

anyways, these past few days we've gotten a lot of snow in athens. the ivory flakes have clung to the branches and the hillsides, creating scenery so beautiful i can hardly comprehend the wonderland around me.

i have noticed growth inside of me -- the friends around me who love me in a way i've never experienced have greatly contributed to this. Christ works in them and i notice it every day. the weight of the world is a struggle, but it is a blessing to bear it together, to be able to share and be more honest than i ever imagined i could be. i am so thankful for the friends who love me.

i am thankful to be able to change. for quiet mornings and the blessing of having enough time to think about life and read about God. it is such a blessing.


this is something i hope to keep thinking about:
don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer & petition, w/ thanksgiving, present your requests to God. & the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts & your minds in Christ Jesus. finally, brothers, 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.
+phil. 4:6-8