I was blessed to be able to lead a new small group experience at our church, www.northwoods.org, this past fall. The class was called Contagious Joy. The idea was that the more we look for joy the more it will appear in our lives. We spent a lot of time discussing gratitude. While cleaning out my desk this weekend I found some of my notes and wanted to share a bit.
I recently read a story about Abundance and Lack. Abundance was walking through the forest on a hot, dry day. She was thirsty and Life was there to give her a cold glass of water. She drank it thankfully and felt assured that the next time she was thirsty, life would provide her another glass of water. Later that same day, Lack was walking through the same hot, dry forest. Lack was thirsty and life handed him a glass of cold fresh water. Lackthought, “hmm, what’s the catch?” and was leery to drink the water. “What if there is no more water on my walk and I get thirsty again” Lack wondered. So Lack decided he better hold onto the water and not drink it, saving it for later. Unfortunately as the day went by the water got hot and dusty and kept spilling out until the glass was empty. Lack remained thirsty.
I thought this was a great illustration to make us think of how we walk through life. Do we believe that life is abundant and we will always be provided for, or do we walk through life in fear of “what if?” In the NRV bible, it is stated in John 10:10, that God has come so we may have life and have it abundantly. I love it! I love knowing there will always be enough.
If you are feeling that your glass is half empty or you are wondering what do I have to be grateful for, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get busy. I challenge you to make a Master List of Blessings. Jot down a minimum of 50 ways you have been blessed in your life. Include things you are grateful for. Think of today, yesterday, twenty years ago and beyond. Once you have your master list, put it away for now. Then on those days when you feel blue, lonely, tired, or just down, pull out this list. Read it slowly. Embrace it. Then add to it. Remember, Contagious Joy. Let it build in you.
During this cold dreary winter month, sit with a cup of hot tea and take stock. What is on your master list? What have you been blessed with. Go ahead, start. Aim for 50, but don’t stop there if you don’t want to. Let this truly be a HAPPY NEW YEAR filled with blessings from today and all your days leading up to this moment. Live in abundance, let life give you all that you need.
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