Holiday Cheer

With Thanksgiving and then Christmas right around the corner, my heart feels in a contemplative state these days. There's a lot of things associated with both holidays that my life is lacking these days. And so hearing others talk about things, plan stuff, or asking me questions often puts me in a grumpy mood before I even realize it. Some days it feels like an hourly heart check! But today I realized something afresh: joy is a state of the heart, a choice of the mind, and an act of the will.

So, here's my resolutions: even though in this season I can't partake in any of the festive {delish} foods around me, as I try to figure out what I'm allergic to, I will rejoice in my diet of vegetables! Even though I'm single and struggle with feeling so alone during the holidays, I will rejoice in the sweetest Companion and Love who abides each moment and step of the way with me! Even though there is a lot of sickness and hard things happening in my family, I will rejoice that my mom is here with us and that I have an incredible family! Even though my life contains regular transitions and change, I will rejoice in a God who never changes and never fails me! Even though my life hasn't gone as I have planned it out, I will rejoice in all the wonderful, sweet, amazing things that He has brought into my life I could never imagined it would've contained!

I could go on and on.. I have awesome friends, a great family, a beautiful life, and many things any person would envy! Today I rejoice in heart checks and inner battles to choose joy. Thanks God for helping me to see You more clearly day by day!