Grateful Glimpses

Is this challenging for you? I’m sure it is for everyone. Paul wouldn’t have included it in this list of instructions, as God’s will for us in Jesus, if it came naturally.

Gratitude can be especially hard when you’re going through trials, tragedies, or traumas. You may have trouble thinking of anything to be grateful for when your stress level is high and your amygdala has taken over. Yet, Gratitude is actually what can get you unstuck, and able to move into healing—and, it is God’s will for us.

A couple of months ago I decided I wanted to do a focus on Gratitude—with deeper meaning, for greater growth. Because I had several projects already going on for September and October, I of course decided to do it for the month of November.

Doesn’t everyone? These past couple of weeks, Gratitude Journal workshops, classes, challenges started popping up in all my spheres. All for November. Is it just cliche? Everyone focuses on Gratitude during Thanksgiving month. Or is there something more to it?

Gratitude is more than a platitude. It is not “toxic positivity”. Nor being a “Pollyanna”. And it certainly is more than just a rote and surface, “I’m thankful for Jesus, my family, and my home.”

Being thankful in all things is something God tells us to do. It’s not because He’s gaslighting us to not live in reality. It’s not because He’s cruel and calls good evil and evil good.

It’s because He is good and He is always with you, caring for you, in this fallen world that can be cruel and hard, but is not without hope. There is also good—and God, who works all things for good for those who love Him. We all experience both sun and storms, and we can all look for the Light shining in the darkness. It—He is there.

Beyond instruction from God, gratitude is good for our soul. As we look for “whatsoever things are good, lovely, praiseworthy…”, that helps us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, and that leads to our brain being changed, rewired, which brings healing to our souls, and even bodies.

So this month, I’m digging into deeper awareness in “giving thanks in all things”. And how Gratitude brings healing. How it rewires the brain.

Not with big planned out studies or projects. Not with making elaborate lists of things to be grateful for. Rather, in the quiet, daily rhythm of life, just being intentional in watching for a glimpse of the little graces of God. Looking for one small thing in each day, to be grateful for. To give thanks to God for. Perhaps you could call this a glimmer, or a God wink, or a silver lining. Perhaps it’s just seeing the goodness of God, even in the midst of situations that aren’t.

🍁 I may see something in nature, or a kind face. I may hear a song, or read a truth. I may taste something delicious. I may smell a calming scent. I may feel something in my body or emotions. It may be something totally intangible.

🍁 I’ll be documenting these Glimpses I’m grateful for with creativity. (I’m sure you aren’t surprised.) Not as big art projects. But as small and simple as the Glimpses themselves. More on that in tomorrow’s post.

🍁 I’ll be looking in God’s Word, for deeper understanding and wisdom. And maybe dig even more into the neuroscience studies that show what Gratitude does in healing our brains and bodies.

🍁 I’ll be posting daily ThanksGiving scriptures here and on my socials. — “You will keep in perfect peace, the one whose mind is stayed on You, because [she] trusts in You.”

If it takes a holiday month to turn our focus to being grateful, so be it! (And don’t even get me started on how society has already skipped it and gone strait to Christmas, 2 months early—and that not even being baby Jesus focused, totally ignoring the holiday of Gratefulness.) 😢

Grateful Glimpses isn’t a challenge. You have enough challenges in life. But I do invite you to join me in being more aware of the Glimpses of the little, simple things in life to be Grateful for. If you choose to accept this invitation, do it on your own terms. Keep it super simple. No prompts. No requirements. Just be aware. Be Grateful. Document daily—whether that’s using color and design, writing in your journal, or just writing the word for it and putting it in a jar, or in your daily planner. No beating yourself up if you miss a day. If you’d like to, share your Grateful Glimpses with our Freely Whole Creative Community on Facebook.

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Living Coram Deo & freely whole
SDG!
~ Liberty—Life Restoration & Soul Transforming Creativity Coach

Empowering you to live a life that is Freely Whole—spirit, soul, and body—in Jesus! 

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