It can be a challenge to be thankful. After all, it often seems so much easier to complain. The bills are piling up, the boss wanted the project done yesterday and it is barely begun, the children want to be brought someplace and don?t want to eat what is on the table for dinner, and the laundry isn?t going to do itself! Any number of life?s little annoyances can push us into complaining mode. Lamentation is a valid prayer. We are right to bring our cares and concerns to God, to offer up our stress. But thanksgiving is an important part of prayer also. We are often eager to petition God for our needs, but less likely to say ?Thank you? when a prayer has been answered.
So, how then, do we become a woman of thanksgiving? Begin by looking around. Thank God for another day of life, the nature that surrounds us. Do you have a roof over your head, food on the table? Thank God for those. Are your children screaming through the house? Stop and thank God that they are healthy enough to run and play, and yes, even fight with each other! Any time when you feel a complaint bubbling to the surface, take a moment to breathe and survey the situation. Is there any silver lining hiding below the surface that could possibly be a reason for thanks? If so, thank God for that. When petitioning God for a need, always add a prayer of thanksgiving for the answer, whether it is the answer desired or not. Like any habit, with practice, becoming a woman of thanksgiving should become easier.
Should You Have A Spiritual Director?
Exploring the depths of one's spiritual life can be a profound journey, and for many, the guidance of a spiritual director can be invaluable. Spiritual direction offers a structured approach to understanding and enhancing one's relationship with the divine, often leading to clearer insight into personal faith and spirituality. Whether you're facing spiritual dilemmas or seeking deeper engagement with your beliefs, a spiritual director might be a beneficial ally.
Scrapbooking a Lifetime of Memories
Scrapbooking is a popular hobby these days. There are books, magazines, websites, companies, and meeting groups dedicated to preserving our photo memories in a personally meaningful way. I have a dear friend who creates scrapbooks that are truly works of art; people actually pay her to make scrapbooks for them. My scrapbooks will never reach that level of sophistication, consisting only of photos attached to colored paper and simple captions. Nevertheless, I hope that my children will someday appreciate the books I have made for them. Each boy has his own book so that when they grow up and leave the nest, they can take a piece of their past with them. In their books are all the pictures you would expect to find: birthdays, Christmas, trips that we have taken, as well as some photos of everyday occurrences. All the individuals who have played a role in their young lives are labeled by name so that thirty years from now they won't have to come back and ask me who these people are.
Reclaim Your Creative Spirit
Summary: Creativity is not exclusive to artists; it's a universal trait embedded in our very nature. Inspired by the divine act of creation, every individual has the potential to express creativity in unique ways. This article explores how to rediscover and nurture your inherent creative abilities, offering practical tips and insights to help you reconnect with your inner artist.
