Always Something to Celebrate

The look on my son’s face said it all.

What had been a wonderful family day was being overshadowed by a disappointment that to others might seem minor but to him meant everything.

Before he could stomp up the stairs and stew allowing the cloud of frustration to turn into a storm of self-pity, I stopped him with a question.

“Can you tell me three things that you loved today?”

He looked at me with determination to stay mad, but I made it clear that not answering was not an option.

Staring into my smile, he reluctantly listed his favorite activities from the day. By the time he reached the third one, he was smiling, too.

Sometimes it takes a friend or family member to remind us that life is not as bad as it may seem at the moment. Listing the things we are thankful for or even the smallest gifts of joy can change everything. And on the days when you are struggling to think of anything worth celebrating, you can always be thankful for the gift of life and a God that loves you.

When our heads are stuck in storms of disappointment, a simple shift in focus can bring our hearts back to hope.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18