A Weekend Wedding

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 275: Today, I am grateful for a weekend wedding.

There is nothing like a wedding to remind us of the wonder of love. Love is a choice we make every day. Love is days of smiles and laughter... and there are days when you are exhausted and maybe even grumpy. Love says, "I choose you!" on those days and every day in-between. We are excited to celebrate with this young couple. 

I can only imagine the excitement of the bride and groom as the countdown to "Mr. and Mrs." begins. We saw the bride's parents get married. And, we remember when the Bride and her sister were dedicated at church. To see her grow up and into the woman she has become makes our hearts full. To see her love and be loved fully and deeply in return... it is as good as it gets. 

On the other side of the coin, my Mama's best friend (along with Aunt Judy) went to heaven and her life was celebrated on Sunday and Monday. I was unable to attend, but I have a link and will watch it this weekend. We called her "Aunt" Marilyn because "Mrs." was too formal for one so close but we needed the respect of a title. We went through life with several "Aunts" and "Uncles" that were by love and not by birth or marriage. (We had extra Grandparents, too.) Aunt Marilyn helped Mama with our weddings and she was always present.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son." -Matthew 22:2

There are earthly celebrations and heavenly ones, too. Both remind us that love is truly the greatest truly a gift. 

Today, I am grateful for a weekend wedding. 

The Unexpected

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 274: Today, I am grateful for the unexpected.   

This picture cracked me up. 

"I'll be honest, I never in a million years thought I'd catch one of you guys. But right now, I need you to help me get down."

 Our Daisy Mae's biggest nemesis is a squirrel in the backyard. That squirrel gets quite sassy with her. She never loses interest. It is as if she is sure she will catch it one of these days. She won't. She simply is not fast enough and cannot climb trees. 

If she did catch it, it would be unexpected. There are times that we get the unexpected and are not quite sure what to do with it. The unexpected often slows us down, which can be a good thing. There are times we need to pause and pivot. 

The Bible is full of the unexpected. I think of Mary and Joseph and the unexpected circumstances around her pregnancy and the birth of Jesus. They became masters of the pause and pivot when the unexpected came their way. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

To be called, carried, or guided into the unexpected can feel like a test. The test often becomes the testimony. 

Today, I am grateful for the unexpected. 

Reliable Transportation

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 273: Today, I am grateful for reliable transportation. 

As we turn the calendar page and welcome October, I am confident my seat warmers will soon be in use. We call them "bun" or "butt" warmers around here and they are one of my favorite features on my car. The technology is no longer new, but my current car is the first one I've ever owned with that luxury option. Randy's truck has a heated steering wheel, too. 

Honestly, I need to remember to be grateful for a vehicle that runs well enough to get me where I need to go every day. Reliable transportation is not something to take for granted. 

Years ago, a friend gifted me with this verse:

"the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."-Psalm 121:8

It is a simple reminder that we can make plans and have big ideas, but Yahweh is Lord over it all.

I need to be grateful in the sweet moments and patient in the waiting spots. I need to offer thanks for reliable transportation.

Today, I am grateful for reliable transportation. 

Discernment

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 272: Today, I am grateful for discernment.

When you are looking to build a team, it is good to be surrounded with people who have discernment. 

Discernment is wisdom that comes from God. His Spirit urges us in directions we may not take if it were not for His presence in our lives. 

Everything in discernment of spirits is directed toward action: toward firmly accepting what is of God and equally firmly rejecting what is not. -Timothy A. Gallagher

Knowing what is good and of God and knowing what is not is a powerful kind of knowledge. 

"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." -1 Corinthians 2:14

There are times that you know God is leading. Sometimes you are equally sure He is blocking the way. Sometimes He lets us have our way, because we will not let it go. Discernment leans into His Spirit, His will, and His way. They are the whispers and urges that we cannot explain. 

Today, I am grateful for discernment.

Seekers

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 271: Today, I am grateful for the seekers.

My mind quickly went to the Harry Potter series game of Quidditch. The seekers were the ones trying to capture the "snitch" that ends the game. It is played on flying brooms. Each team has seven players on flying brooms (yes, it is fantasy). Here are the teams: 

Chasers (3 players): Their main objective is to score goals by throwing the Quaffle through one of the opponent's three hoops, earning 10 points for each goal.

Beaters (2 players): They use bats to hit Bludgers away from their teammates and towards the opposing team, protecting their Chasers and Keeper.

Keeper (1 player): This player guards the goal hoops, attempting to block the opposing team's Chasers from scoring.

Seeker (1 player): The Seeker's primary role is to catch the Golden Snitch, which is worth 150 points and ends the game when caught.

The Harry Potter illustration may seem odd to some, but it was such a great reminder of the many ways we are all seekers. The enemy of our soul sends bludgers (flying iron balls) to knock us off course. Our human minds are easily distracted by other things. We are told to seek first the Kingdom of God. What are His priorities? Do we make them ours? Are we seekers?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." -Matthew 6:33

"All the things" has become a common phrase. In Him, "all the things" is a true sense of peace, contentment, and knowing we are loved is enough. He is our "enough."

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." -Matthew 7:7-8

Today, I am grateful for the seekers.

His Enduring Word

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 270: Today, I am grateful for His enduring Word. 

Isaiah 40:8 states: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." This verse emphasizes the transient nature of life and the enduring nature of God's word.

There are so many echoes from the Old Testament into the New Testament. It is a constant reminder that the O.T. foreshadows the N.T. and the N.T. reveals the mysteries in the O.T. I love to note them in my Bible margins. Here is one for the Isaiah 40:8 passage:

1 Peter 1:24-25 echoes this sentiment, stating: "For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever."

What are the things that endure? When we reach a certain age, we realize that 50 years goes by pretty fast. We have now put a second roof on our home, because we have been here 30 years. The first one did not seem to be that long ago. Time is the strangest thing, even to our human minds. For our eternal God, David notes that "a day is a thousand years and a thousand years is a day." No wonder our ideas, plans and time frames do not match up with his. 

Our God breath... our soul breath... brought dust to life. 

" then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." Genesis 2:7 

God breathed. I love that part! His Word endures and it is good. His breath gave us life. Jesus's last breath on the cross paid our sin debt. His first victory breath in resurrection ensures us victory, too. The grave is not the end. Where we spend eternity is an invitation, a decision, and a destination anchored in a free-will decision that leads to a real relationship, hope, and a future. From Genesis to Revelation, it is a continuing story of His love for us. 

Today, I am grateful for His enduring Word. 

Sunrise & Sunset

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 269: Today, I am grateful for te sunrise and sunset. 

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! -Psalm 113:3

Before electricity, sunrise and sunset were markers for the work day. Some things required a lantern before dawn or after sunset, but for the majority of labor happened between those two day markers.

Sunrise always feels like a fresh start. From sunset to sunrise, there is rest and restoration. The calm and quiet that follows the sunset helps us unwind, if we let it. 

Sunrise and sunset are the beautiful bookends on each day. 

Today, I am grateful for the sunrise and sunset. 

The Seasons in September

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 268: Today, I am grateful for the seasons in September.

We joke in the Midwest that "if you do not like the weather, wait ten minutes." That is extreme, but we really can have three seasons in a day or two. It tends to be when we see tornadoes and other severe weather. 

It happened a couple of times this past 12 months and it will happen again. From unseasonable highs to unseasonable lows, the earth prepares for the change one day at a time. 

"We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer's wreckage. We will welcome summer's ghost." -Henry Rollins

Everyone seems to be digging out the lightweight fall colors from the closet. Earthy tones with a kiss of bright colors coming from the same oranges, reds, and yellows that color the trees. I noticed an elm on the way home that was green on the bottom with flaming yellow leaves as a crown. It was stunning. My friends Don and Stephanie would call noticing the tree "joy spotting." It certainly brought me joy. 

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth. King Solomon wrote these words in Ecclesiastes 3:2-8

A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

Seasons come and they go. Savor the good. Make time to spot the joy. Look for the colors around you. Be prepared for whatever the day brings. Lovely September is nearly spent. 

Today, I am grateful for the seasons in September.

Children's Books

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 267: Today, I am grateful for children's books. 

Children's literature has always been a favorite of mine. I knew as a young adult that "The Velveteen Rabbit" was special. It wrapped up love, hope, loss, loyalty, grief, and healing in a way that adult fiction could not without being depressing. 

"There are some themes, some subjects. too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children's book." Philip Pullman

Perhaps it is because children do not tiptoe around the hard stuff. They dive right in. They cry the tears. They feel the pain. They get mad and sad, but they press on until they get to a better ending. They celebrate the little things, too. 

Winnie the Pooh has not been in a gratitude post for a while, but it may be time to revisit some of my favorite quotes. That bear of "very little brain" had much wisdom about living life well with an eclectic group of characters surrounding him. 

Even in our Sunday School lessons, we pull out the scriptures with powerful stories of God's willingness to not give up on humans. Some of my favorites are of the ones who endured hard situations and trusted His heart. From a mother putting her baby in a basket to be found by an Egyptian princess in order to save his life to three young men who faced a fiery furnace before they would bow to an idol, the Bible passages made into children's stories deal with some hard stuff. Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and David, the shepherd boy who would be king, taught us about God's presence in the good times, the hard times, and in the details of our daily lives.  

Jesus used stories when he wanted people to understand hard concepts. 

"Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable." -Matthew 13:34

As young parents, the book "I Love You, Forever" could barely be read without choking up and Chase asked for it over and over one trip to Michigan (before Walker was born). Even in our twenties, we had seen enough of the circle of life to be impacted by the story. 

Feel free to add your favorite children's books in the comments. 

Today, I am grateful for children's books. 

Your Best is Enough

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 266: Today, I am grateful for gentle reminders that your best is enough. 

"How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?" -old tongue twister

Some have never heard the tongue twister. It is essential to understanding the humor in this image. A woodchuck is a groundhog. It is the largest of the ground squirrels and is in the squirrel family. 

"You are holding tension here in your neck. Just let it go. Nobody really cares how much wood you would chuck, even if you did chuck wood..."

When I saw this I giggled. Sometimes we all need to be reminded to relax. Not every day needs to be a contest or a race to the finish line. Do what you can. Do your best. Then, let the rest wait for a new day. Find joy in the daily doing. Be content with the "enough." 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” -Colossians 3:23

I love this reminder to do our best and for His glory... not our own accolades. He delights in His children, with all of our quirks and imperfections. We are planted in places with work to do. When we do it with all of our hearts we can know it pleases our Lord. 

Today, I am grateful for gentle reminders that your best is enough. 

Homeless Books

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 265: Today, I am grateful to collect "homeless" books. 

There are only 100 days left in 2026. The years move swiftly by. I've been trying to get as much reading in as possible (yes, I read with audiobooks) because it is a great way to relax and unwind. If I read with a book in hand, I fall asleep. Audio books allow me the freedom to multi-task. 

I have never seen this quote:

"Second hand books are wild books,  homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack." -Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)

I love second hand book stores as much as new ones. I have certain books I always look for Og Mandino books to buy so I can give them away. You never know what you will find. 

I just finished the book "The Frozen River," a historical mystery novel by Ariel Lawhon. It is fiction but it is based on the life of Martha Ballard, an 18th century midwife and her part in the trial of Judge Joseph North. Her husband, Ephraim, would buy her second hand books as a gift along with leather bound blank journals for her to write about her days. He had taught her to read and write after their marriage on December 19, 1754. Both were treasured in those days, because such things were not plentiful. 

A second hand book with all of the pages was a true treasure. I can barely imagine life without easy access to books. The book is part fiction as the author clearly states, but it gives a deep insight into what life was like in those days. Second hand books were woven into the story. On one instance, "she wondered how Ephraim had found such a copy, with no pages missing."  

We take a book with no missing pages as an expectation, even in second-hand book stores. I love Woolf's visual of second hand books as wild and homeless. It is a beautiful flip on what some consider "an old, used book." I am with Woolf and Martha Ballard.

Shout out to Stephanie Brown for this book recommendation. It was a spectacular journey from start to finish. 

As I sought out a passage, this one reminded me that the early disciples of the Gospel are just like us. 

"When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments." -2 Timothy 4:13

Today, I am grateful to collect "homeless" books. 

Low Bowing Branches

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 264: Today, I am grateful for low bowing branches.

"The branch that bears the most fruit bows the lowest."

What is the story behind the branch that bears the most fruit? For most, there was some kind of pruning in the process. It has not been neglected and left on its own. It receives care. It gets cut back at the right time to result in new strength and more fruit at the end of the season.   

The branch that bears the most fruit has been tended by the gardener or farmer. It has been watered and pruned. Water is life giving and life sustaining. Pruning is painful, but it forces the plant to become resilient. Pruning makes it stronger. It results in more fruit, but for season it can look sad as it builds a stronger branch.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5

"Remain in me and I in you." Attached to the vine, we grow stronger. We are sustained in every season. Painful pruning is not punishment, but care. It keeps us closer to the vine. "No pain - no gain" is an exercise motto that encourages athletes to push through the hard days. Press on.

The stronger the branch, the more fruit it can bear. When a branch is loaded with fruit, it bows the lowest which makes it assessible to those who need it the most. The season of pruning in the painful part of the story, but it is what makes the harvest rich and reachable. Loaded low bowing branches feed the hungry. 

Today, I am grateful for low bowing branches.

Good Directions

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 263: Today, I am grateful for good directions.

Good directions make a difference. This day of GPS assistance has us quite spoiled. It builds our courage to go places we have never been. Good direction gives us courage. 

He is either the Lord of our lives, or He isn’t. Sometimes we wrestle with His will. Other times, it flows naturally. There is an element of practice in submission to His will. It might be compared to any exercise, sport, or task that has been practiced until there is  a sense of “muscle memory.” 

We can feel when we are walking in His will, and when we are not. Our human nature fights against it. The battle for control can cheat us of  the peace and contentment that He desires to bestow on His children. 

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” 

-Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Good instruction and good directions make all the difference in our days. 

Today, I am grateful for good directions.

Choose What We Water

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 262: Today, I am grateful we can choose which thoughts we water. 

"It's the thoughts we water each day that become the garden we live in." 

The summer is slipping into fall. The flowers we have enjoyed all summer are being replaced by more cold weather hardy plants. They all need water to survive. Water makes the difference in what lives and flourishes. 

Our thoughts can act as "water," so we must... at times... guard the thoughts that flow from our heart.  

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." -Proverbs 4:23 

Today, I am grateful we can choose which thoughts we water. 

Huffle-Buffs: Old Faves

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 261: Today, I am grateful for "huffle-buffs."

Huffle-Buffs (Scots) those old, worn out, yet comfortable items of clothing. 

Finding new words always feels like finding hidden treasure. This one has Scottish origins. It is an old Scots dialect word.

I've seen it used to describe clothing, but blankets, too. For me, it would especially work for some old coats and favorite shoes. I did my part to keep Fred's Shoe Repair in business when it was a convenient drop off in Peoria. Fred would always start with "this is the last time we can repair these boots or shoes." I knew he was right, but it was hard. He was gentle and seemed to understand. That final warning gave me time to start looking for the right replacement. 

I think the huffle-buffs are the things that by the time you are ready to part with them, you would be embarrassed to donate them. They are cozy, comfy, and spark sweet memories. Just writing about them makes me smile. 

"But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." -1 Timothy 6:8

To be comfortable and content is as good as it gets. 

Today, I am grateful for "huffle-buffs."

Who Stands With You?

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 260: Today, I am grateful for the ones who stand in the rain with you. 

"It's about who stands in the rain with you, when they also have a choice to be dry. Remember that."

When I saw this, Earworm started singing an old song by Superchick. "Stand in the Rain." (If you are new here, Earworm sings the songs that get stuck in your head and won't go away.) It is a great old song that is filled with the reminder that there are hard times, but we get through them. There are times we simply have to stand in the rain and stand our ground. There are times the rain falls. 

"Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” -Deuteronomy 3:22

There will be lonely days, hard days, and rainy days, but we are not alone. 

Knowing that, when you find a human who chooses to stand with you in the rain when they could choose to be dry... that is someone to remember, honor, and cherish.  Simple acts of kindness can feel like an umbrella on a rainy day... or hope when it seems lost. 

Today, I am grateful for the ones who stand in the rain with you. 

Nice Sounds

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 259: Today, I am grateful for nice sounds.

A List of Nice Sounds:

*Rain on the window pane
*Leaves rustling in the wind
*A crackling fire
*Turning book pages
*Distant church bells
*Quiet Voices
*Crickets chirping on a still summer night. 

In a world full of noise and distractions, a reminder to focus on "nice sounds" is a worthy way to spend a little part of the day. 

Crickets are chirping right now. The sound of an early morning garbage pick up reminds me to be thankful for the service. The sound of the coffee maker brewing is always sweet music to the ears and the scent is divine. The gentle tap on the computer keys is soothing for me. 

Nice sounds calm us and give a gentle entry into a new day or a restful one when day is done. 

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing His praise from the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 42:10

A new song can be a gentle hum. I am reminded that praise does not need to be shouted as I listen to this morning's quiet combination of nature mixed with morning sounds. 

Today, I am grateful for nice sounds.

Be the Light

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 258: Today, I am grateful for reminders to be the light.

"Maybe your purpose is to light the way for others who are still searching..." 

"Light" has been a word I've used in the past to ponder and pray on. It is still one of my favorites. The science of light is masterfully designed by a God who called it "good" in the very beginning. 

Light is so powerful that a single candle can break the darkness. It is not easily hidden. How many lives has the lighthouse saved over the centuries? When all seems hopeless or lost, light breaks through the darkness with gentle power. 

As the days are getting shorter, we tend to treasure the light more. We appreciate the time we have in daylight, because we know it is limited in the fall and winter days. 

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." -Matthew 5:15

You do not know who is searching for the Light of the World. Shine on, anyway. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders to be the light.

The Little Things

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 257: Today, I am grateful for the little things.  

"And one day you realize it was never about the big things. You realize it's actually about the little moments that feel like magic. It's about the simplest of seconds that make you smile. It's about the genuine experiences that fill your heart with joy. It's about the conversations that make you believe in kindness and compassion. It's about the hugs you want to hold for that little bit longer. It's about surrounding yourself with people that feel like sunshine. It's about the moments of peace and stillness that prove how beautiful the world can be. It was never about the big things."  -Pooh Memes 

There is a television channel, a social media platform, and an internet destination that sows the seeds of discontentment in our hearts. We forget how truly blessed we are when we are bombarded with messages about better, best, and more. I am reminded that "less is more" in many cases. 

Focus on the honest, the simple, and the true blessings that fill our days. Hot, clean water is one of them. Heat and air-conditioning is another. A car that runs, food in the pantry and plenty of toilet paper are daily blessings we take for granted. People who are happy to see you when you arrive. Hugs. These things are priceless. 

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

This week, look for the little things that are really the big things. 

Pumpkin Festival Week

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 256: Today, I am grateful for Pumpkin Festival Week. 

It is almost here... and I cannot wait. The anticipation feels a little like Christmas in Morton, IL. The children have been counting the days. Parents have a plan for extra expenses that come with the festival, and figure out a way to make it all work. Our little community comes together (Morton & Groveland) with the power of volunteerism and a Chamber of Commerce that performs small miracles getting everything ready and keeping it running. 

Some joke it is Morton's World's Fair, but in truth, people have come from around the world to be a part of the celebration. They come for the pumpkin ice cream, the pumpkin donuts, the pumpkin chili, and so many other special festival related favorites. 

CBS did a spot on their Sunday Morning show and it was exciting to see so many familiar faces, including the ones cutting the ribbon (next door neighbor Jim Ackerman & Dave Neuhauser (church family and Walker's birthday buddy) and making the chili (Joe Sander & Troy Teater). I need to rewatch it, as I missed some faces the first time or two through the video. 

The video shows the love for "all things pumpkin" here in Morton, but it shows more. The young ladies interviewed were delightful. I giggled at their word choice when asked if there was anything they didn't like... and they used "vile" to describe the smell that comes with the rotting pumpkin carcasses when Nestle/Libby's is finished with them. It is a temporary smell, but for a time when the wind is right... "vile" is a kind word for the aroma. 

I still remember Walker saying he rolled down the window to take in the "pumpkin stink" when he came home for the festival his first year away at college. Allison Vastine and I talked about it, too. That aroma is associated with so many happy, fun, and fabulous memories, it becomes easy to overlook it. 

The more pleasant scents are elephant ears, corn dogs, pork chops, brats, and rib eye on the Pumpkin Grill. It is the best of carnival foods, rides, and games. The parade is always long and filled with reminders of the people, business, and churches in our neighborhood. How early is too early to put out your parade chairs? 

Jefferson School (K-6th) has a front row seat and it amazes me that they can get any learning accomplished in the festival chaos, but they do. Most Jefferson teachers weave pumpkins and the festival into whatever they are teaching that week. They are proud to have the festival on school grounds. 

My verse of the day was perfect:

"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." -1 Peter 3:8

We will all be burning the candle on both ends this week and worth every minute of lost sleep as we try to fit it all in. Remember to be kind and forgiving. 

In three more wake ups... it is Uncle Bud's Apple Cider Slushie Day!!! A slushie a day until the festival goes away and sometimes two on Saturday. (This is my personal obsession... although I love pumpkin.)

Today, I am grateful for Pumpkin Festival Week.  

Commanded to Rejoice

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 255: Today, I am grateful for power in the commandment to rejoice. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" -Philippians 4:4

There is an old praise chorus that is this scripture set to song. It is easily sung in a round and the children always enjoyed it. There is something about singing in a round that brings something fresh to worship. I love how it starts out with just a few voices and ends in the same way. 

It is easy to fall into the worries and the woes as we walk through our day, but we are given clear direction. We are to rejoice in the Lord, not our circumstances... because they can change quickly. His love and faithfulness are steady and true... even when we have troubles. 

Our niece, Kenzie, never said she had a problem when she was little. She would say, "I have troubles." I still smile when I think of it, not because it was funny, but because she was so sincere in her declaration. She was independent and didn't necessarily want help. Sometimes, she just wanted an encouraging word until she figured it out. We could almost see her thinking. Then a big smile would come and she would be on her way with a happy heart. 

Sometimes we have to sit with the troubles for a bit, but even in trials, we are reminded to rejoice in His faithfulness in all of our days. 

"True happiness is to rejoice in the truth, for to rejoice in the truth is to rejoice in You, O God, who are the truth... Those who think that there is another kind of happiness look for joy elsewhere, but theirs is not true joy."  -Saint Augustine

Today, I am grateful for power in the commandment to rejoice.

Times of Remembering

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 254: Today, I am grateful for times of remembering.

25 years... it seems like forever ago in some ways and in others, the raw emotion of those days is never far from the surface. The skies went strangely silent. There was no air traffic for days. 

The names, the faces, and the stories kept coming... from the planes, from the towers, from the firehouses, and from the families. The courage and sacrifice of our first responders and heroic responses from ordinary people caught in an extraordinary moment in time. 

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

Words are not quite adequate to capture the feeling we found ourselves swimming in for the first days and throughout that first year post 9-11. It was as if we were holding our breath, waiting for what came next. 

In some ways, that breath has never been fully exhaled. Still, the other thing I remember the most about those days is how it united us as a country. For a season, we were just Americans wrapped in the strength of everything "Old Glory" represents. We are better together. A house divided cannot stand. Character, integrity, and love are stronger than hate. 

I will never forget the many "God Wink" stories of people late to work that day for appointments, missed trains, first days of school, and more. It is truly shocking how many were spared because of unexpected inconveniences or one a year live events. I think of it as "the shadow of His wings." 

May our love be stronger than hate. May we grow in wisdom and understanding. Let us seek to tune our heart to His Spirit, so that we sense evil when it is present. May we love mercy, seek justice, and walk humbly with our God.

Today, I am grateful for times of remembering.  

5000 Day Doxology

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 253: Today, I am grateful for 5000 days in gratitude.

What was the date 5000 days ago from today? January 1, 2013 is the answer. It was the first day of a personal challenge to post something I am grateful for every day for the month of January. The previous months had some tough stuff, and the winter was still ahead. I do not love winter. At the end of January, I decided to go another month, because I could feel the difference that the simple practice made in my daily life. 

January turned to February... and February into March. I realized by April the power of the simple act of recording thankfulness in the good times... and even more so when it was hard. 

Over the years, it has grown. I started adding favorite quotes, shared images from Pinterest and Facebook, and eventually a scripture on most days, because there always seemed to be a passage that fit the gratitude. His Word really does have something for every day. 

December 31, 2026, will mark the completion of 14 years (5112 days). I always have to make the decision to stop or press on with public sharing. I continue to learn from the daily practice, as it keeps me focused on His faithfulness in all seasons of life... weather seasons and good versus hard times. 

My earliest church memories were at the little Congregational Church in Clifton, IL. Grandpa Lindgren taught us quiet things to do with our hands as he fed us Brach's hard candies to keep us quiet. Mom was at the organ. Dad was often ushering. The service always ended with the traditional Doxology:

 "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. A-men."

I think that might have been the first seed of thanksgiving that took root in my heart. It was a reminder for all that has breath to give thanks. 

"I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you." -Isaiah 46:4

Today, I am grateful for 5000 days in gratitude.

Lessons in Self Control

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 252: Today, I am grateful for lessons in self control. 

Titus 2:2 was my verse of the day. Paul's letters to Titus are full of good instructions for living well in all seasons of life. He speaks about living well in community. Today's verse addresses older men, but it has good lessons for everyone. 

"Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience." -Titus 2:2

One of Dad's favorite sayings was, "It takes a long time to screw an old man's head on a young man's body." In other words, maturity takes time, life lessons, mistakes, and experiences. You can read for wisdom and forget the instruction. Living the mistakes and victories makes them stick. 

Lessons in self control are even more challenging in a world with social media. Never have we lived in a world where it is more challenging to sort out truth from fiction and A.I. Things are said and done that cannot be unseen and undone. The internet has a long memory. Wise words are better than words spewed in anger. 

Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it necessary? Does it show love and patience? Self control is an exercise every day that is worth practicing. If something needs to be spoken, let it brew, let it stew, and let His word lead the conversation. Not in bits and pieces, but in context with self control. 

Today, I am grateful for lessons in self control. 

Dress for the Day

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 251: Today, I am grateful we can "dress for the day."

A long time ago... in a galaxy far away... well, actually, it was forty years ago at Olivet Nazarene University, we had to "dress for the day." I remember friends who went to U of I and ISU talking about rolling into class in sweatpants. I couldn't even imagine it, nor could they imagine putting on actual, respectable clothing daily.

I've always preferred dresses to pants. I am truly my mother's daughter. We were allowed to wear dress pants, but it was never my first choice. Jeans weren't legally permitted until after 5 p.m. We had to wear dress clothes during the school week and on Sundays. Miraculously, we survived without physical injury and emerged at graduation with fully functional professional closets.

Even back then, the dress code rules seemed ridiculous and archaic to some. Science has since weighed in on the matter, with studies on classroom attire yielding mixed results. But let's be honest: how you show up matters. First impressions—whether in a job interview or on exam day—signal that you mean business and are actually prepared.

I love sparkle, glitter, and shine. (If it doesn't catch the light, is it even worth wearing?) Yet, I am reminded that it’s far more important to shine from the inside-out."

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." -1 Peter 3:3-4

The gals in this picture are ready for a Target run, a trip to Walmart, or coffee with friends. The only thing missing? Tiaras. Honestly, I find them inspiring.

So, dress for the day with your own sense of style. Be comfortable in your own skin. Be unapologetically yourself. Wear whatever helps you take on the world.

Today, I am grateful we can "dress for the day."

Grace in Breaking Camp

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 250: Today, I am grateful for the grace in "breaking camp." 

I read this passage today and it came alive in a different way than it ever has before. When God says it is time to move... we had better move. 

“When we were at Mount Sinai, the Lord our God said to us, ‘You have stayed at this mountain long enough.  It is time to break camp and move on." -Deuteronomy 1:6-7a

I dug into the passage a little bit. It was where they were when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments. It is where they felt some spiritual highs and lows. They literally had miracle manna every morning and no one went hungry or thirsty. They did get bored with the menu. 

God allows different spaces and places for us to learn to know him better. Whenever it is time to move on from what is comfortable, it is not easy. It does not mean that the next place will not be good or even better. It does not mean the journey will be a piece of manna. Still, when it is time to break camp, we have to trust His hand and His heart. 

Today, I am grateful for the grace in "breaking camp." 

Your "Yellow"

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 249: Today, I am grateful for the "yellows" in our days.

I love the color yellow. It makes me think of Jennifer, Lola (Sisters-in-Love), and Emma (Daughter-in-Love). My love for it has grown because of them. It is one of the happiest colors in the spectrum. It is a primary color, making it necessary for other blended colors. 

"Who is your yellow?" 

"Yellow is someone who brings sunshine into your life without even trying. They're your warmth on a bad day, your loudest laugh, your comfort in silence. They brighten even your darkest moments just by being there."

The "yellow" people are warm, constant and true. They show up when you need them most and they stay. 

"I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts," -Colossians 4:8 

I am grateful for those who bring the "yellow" to our days. 

Today, I am grateful for the "yellows" in our days. 

Reminders Not To Judge

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 248: Today, I am grateful for the reminder to not judge others. 

"We witness other people's storms from the shelter of our own perspectives. Let us be mindful that we don't add the cold rain of judgement to their already soaked spirits." -Liz Newman

The phrase "the cold rain of judgment" creates a powerful image. It holds no encouragement, comfort, or hope.  When people are hurting, a spirit of corrective-ness is not a "Fruit of the Spirit." 

Love lifts others up. Listening builds relationships. The storms do not last forever.  

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." -Matthew 7:1-2

Today, I am grateful for the reminder to not judge others. 

Grand Adventures in Ordinary Days

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 247: Today, I am grateful for grand adventures in ordinary days. 

"Give them the kind of childhood that needs a bath afterward. Creek water on their shoes. Grass stains on their knees. Mud on their hands. And stories they can't wait to tell." 

This image took me back to my childhood. Mama put us out to play and we could come in for meals, the bathroom, and injuries. She did not referee sibling disagreements. She made us figure them out. If you ever said you were bored, Mama could fill our boredom with work. 

We played in the corn crib, climbed the walls of the old red barn, played with the Corbin grandchildren when they visited Case and Gladys, and filled our days with as many friends and cousins as we could. 

I have a theory about language and creeks. It seems to me any little stream was a creek, but when it was on  your property, it was a "crick." I do not know for sure. It might just be the more country term. I do know that we spent our days in the creek, chasing kittens, and creating pottery from the claylike mud. 

At the end of our long lane was a little house my Uncle Bobby made in shop class in high school when I was little. We used it for bus shelter during the school year. April and I loved that little getaway that was all our own. It sat near the mulberry tree that grew in the big ditch. We would race to beat the birds to the mulberries when they were ripe. We would sweep the dirt out, wash the one window, and play the days away. The "crick" provided plenty of wildlife, wild asparagus, and wildflowers to observe. 

"Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good." -Genesis 1:11-12

It was very good!

Today, I am grateful for grand adventures in ordinary days. 

Lyrics

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 246: Today, I am grateful for the song lyrics that provide companionship through ordinary days. 

I am not sure we grasp the depth of companionship music provides. Each one of us has a soundtrack of our lives. From childhood through today's top ten hits, music is a constant companion and at times... a friend. 

What is the first movie soundtrack you remember? I remember the season of CB radio popularity that arrived with "truckers songs" that seemed abundant after "Smokey and the Bandit" became a hit movie. Musical scores from Disney had us all singing along. In time, some of the lines and phrasing is woven into our daily speech. 

There are times song lyrics come to mind before other thoughts get organized. It is why the kind of music and lyrics we choose matters. Lyrics can provide the right words at the right time. Christmas hymns reach back hundreds of years, keeping the past connected to the future. "Let Heaven and nature sing!"

"Country Roads... take me home" by John Denver has become a classic for people feeling a little homesick. Have you ever looked at your muddy paws pup and thought "You ain't nothing but a hound dog?" 

Lyrics are powerful. 

"Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart" ~ Ephesians 5:19

Today, I am grateful for the song lyrics that provide companionship through ordinary days.