Getting ready

Wait! What are we getting ready for? The next chapter in your life of course! Whether it's High School, College, Dating, Marriage, or Children we're all patiently, or most of us NOT so patiently waiting for the next step, the next Chapter, whatever the Lord has for us next and hoping it happens SOON!

In anticipation of the next climactic life event, we throw ourselves into preparing for whatever it may be, getting ready to move away to college to working on the resume to win Mr. Right, to nesting in preparation for the stork's arrival.

We strain our eyes and crane our necks like an alpaca looking for that next thing, meanwhile missing all the blessings right under our noses!

Blessings? What blessings? I'm simply waiting for the dashing Mr. Right to come in a sweep me off my feet, put a piece of hardware on my left hand and whisk me off to our fairy tale wedding and dream honeymoon and we will live happily ever after. Today is just another day to work on the ol' resume and so I think I'll go bake some cookies, fix that leaky sink and scale Mount Everest, in hopes that he'll be impressed.

By the time that's all done, I've burnt my fingers on the hot pan, hit my head under the sink and the closest I got to Mount Everest was googling it from my living room.

The day is almost done when a friend calls me to go on a walk where I enjoy the most beautiful sunset, a lovely chat with a friend and the cool Autumn breeze. Simple blessings.

Simple, everyday gifts. I realize that in the busyness of preparation for the next chapter I almost missed the innumerable blessings the Lord has given me TODAY!

Sunshine on my face
A child's laughter
Plants in our apartment that are STILL alive! (Trust us...this is a small miracle!)

It's in learning to see the everyday blessings and living in the here and now that we will become more content.

Philippians 4:11 & 12 says:

For I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Learning to see the everyday blessings the Lord has given, deepens our appreciation and love for Him and all He has blessed us with. As we give thanks for today we learn to live for His glory today, entrusting Him with our tomorrows.