By Josie Siler
I’m sure we can all relate to the phrase, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired!” I know I can. It wears at you. Day in and day out it’s the same old thing, not feeling well. Not a day goes by where something doesn’t hurt. If we happen to have a good day, we overdo it and end up paying for it the next day…or two…or three…. It’s hard to remember what day it is because each day seems to be the same as the last. Throw into the mix a long, cold winter (for some of us) and we’re left feeling drained and maybe even angry.
Every year, right about this time, I feel a deep desire to get out and do something. I want to enjoy life, have fun, hang out with my friends, go on adventures, and live life abundantly! However, that doesn’t usually happen. When the time comes, I just don’t feel well enough. So I say, “Maybe next summer I’ll be able to…”. You know what? I’m getting sick of it! I’m sick of being sick, and this year I vow to do things differently. I have finally realized that I’ve been going about this all wrong.
It is quite obvious that my big plans for each summer haven’t been working. In fact, they end in defeat and misery. So this summer, it’s all about the little things. It’s about stopping to smell the roses. It’s about enjoying the life that God has given me. It’s about experiencing the world around me and finding God there.
I’m sure we can all relate to the phrase, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired!” I know I can. It wears at you. Day in and day out it’s the same old thing, not feeling well. Not a day goes by where something doesn’t hurt. If we happen to have a good day, we overdo it and end up paying for it the next day…or two…or three…. It’s hard to remember what day it is because each day seems to be the same as the last. Throw into the mix a long, cold winter (for some of us) and we’re left feeling drained and maybe even angry.
Every year, right about this time, I feel a deep desire to get out and do something. I want to enjoy life, have fun, hang out with my friends, go on adventures, and live life abundantly! However, that doesn’t usually happen. When the time comes, I just don’t feel well enough. So I say, “Maybe next summer I’ll be able to…”. You know what? I’m getting sick of it! I’m sick of being sick, and this year I vow to do things differently. I have finally realized that I’ve been going about this all wrong.
It is quite obvious that my big plans for each summer haven’t been working. In fact, they end in defeat and misery. So this summer, it’s all about the little things. It’s about stopping to smell the roses. It’s about enjoying the life that God has given me. It’s about experiencing the world around me and finding God there.
Psalm 34 is my favorite Psalm. Psalm 34:8 is my favorite verse of my favorite Psalm. It has been ever since I was a child. It says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!” When I read this verse today, I am reminded that God is good and there’s joy to be found in Him. Knowing that God is good is one thing. Tasting and seeing that God is good is something else entirely. To taste means to perceive. We are to experience God’s goodness with our senses.
What does this look like? Really, the sky’s the limit – so let’s start there! Have you noticed how blue the sky can be on a clear summer day? Have you seen clouds illuminated by brilliant colors as the sun sets? Have you watched clouds darken and let out rain to water the beautiful flowers and make the grass a brilliant green? Have you heard the birds chirp and sing their songs of praise to the Lord? Have you watched the eagle soar on wings that never seem to grow weary or tired? Have you watched the squirrels play or a group of deer run through a field? Have you noticed how comical your neighbor’s dog is and what a soft coat he has? Have you ever seen a double rainbow lighting up the sky after a storm? Have you enjoyed the feel of the wind on your face as you ride a bicycle or ride in the car with the windows down? Have you watched the mighty ant crawl across your blanket during a picnic, carrying away food 50 times its weight? Have you watched lightening light up the night sky with beautiful jagged patterns and then counted to see how long it would take the thunder to follow? Have you stopped to smell the roses, or lilacs, or any other fragrant flower?
I could go on and on, but the point is, God made each of those things. He’s incredible! He’s worthy to be praised and adored and worshiped with every fiber of our being. I know that this summer is going to be different for me because my perspective has changed. How can it not be an amazing summer if I spend it looking for God’s goodness in everything? I choose to take refuge in the Lord and I choose joy.
Please, won’t you join me? Let’s all have a summer to remember. A summer where we enjoy the life we’re living because it’s the life God have given us to live. Let’s not keep all the joy of God’s goodness to ourselves either; let’s share with each other all the amazing ways we taste and see God’s goodness. Leave a comment on the blog or share on Broken but Priceless Ministries’ Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you!
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” --John 10:10--
© May 15, 2014
What does this look like? Really, the sky’s the limit – so let’s start there! Have you noticed how blue the sky can be on a clear summer day? Have you seen clouds illuminated by brilliant colors as the sun sets? Have you watched clouds darken and let out rain to water the beautiful flowers and make the grass a brilliant green? Have you heard the birds chirp and sing their songs of praise to the Lord? Have you watched the eagle soar on wings that never seem to grow weary or tired? Have you watched the squirrels play or a group of deer run through a field? Have you noticed how comical your neighbor’s dog is and what a soft coat he has? Have you ever seen a double rainbow lighting up the sky after a storm? Have you enjoyed the feel of the wind on your face as you ride a bicycle or ride in the car with the windows down? Have you watched the mighty ant crawl across your blanket during a picnic, carrying away food 50 times its weight? Have you watched lightening light up the night sky with beautiful jagged patterns and then counted to see how long it would take the thunder to follow? Have you stopped to smell the roses, or lilacs, or any other fragrant flower?
I could go on and on, but the point is, God made each of those things. He’s incredible! He’s worthy to be praised and adored and worshiped with every fiber of our being. I know that this summer is going to be different for me because my perspective has changed. How can it not be an amazing summer if I spend it looking for God’s goodness in everything? I choose to take refuge in the Lord and I choose joy.
Please, won’t you join me? Let’s all have a summer to remember. A summer where we enjoy the life we’re living because it’s the life God have given us to live. Let’s not keep all the joy of God’s goodness to ourselves either; let’s share with each other all the amazing ways we taste and see God’s goodness. Leave a comment on the blog or share on Broken but Priceless Ministries’ Facebook page. We’d love to hear from you!
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” --John 10:10--
© May 15, 2014
RSS Feed