A THANKFUL HEART IS A HAPPY HEART

Well it is again Thankful Thursday time, and as I find myself dwelling on the things that have blessed me this week, I realized one of the things I am quite thankful for is for this meme itself.  I have found over the course of my life that I control soo much of my own frame of mind at times it is really kind of overwhelming.  To most of you that probably wouldn't be a discovery at all, but for me, it is really quite huge.  Let's just face it everyone knows there are two kinds of people.  Those who see the glass half empty and those who see it half full; or your pessimists and your optimists.  I'd like to think that I am the forever optimist, but I wonder how much of my life that has really been true.  If you look for the flaws in any given situation, you WILL find them, and likewise if you look for the blessings, trust me, you will find those too.  But for me I have found that looking for the blessings produces a joy in my heart that brings about contentment and a comforting peace.  A thankful heart really is a happy heart.  In scripture we are told to...

Phl 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

I have always felt that this particular verse gives us permission in essence to mediate or dwell on the "good things" in our lives.  The things we KNOW to be true such as His Word and His love.  The "lovely" things in our lives, and there are soo many of them.  The things that are truly praiseworthy and of virtue.  It is just so true that if we put only negative things into our minds and dwell on them, sadness, stress and unhappiness is what we will get back.  And likewise of course if we fill our hearts and spirits and minds with Him and the goodness in our lives, we will produce joy, contentment and peace.  So much of the Christian walk comes down to the mind.  Romans 12:2 speaks of the essential place of being transformed by the renewing of your mind and 2 Corinthians 10:5 speaks of the importance of casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing EVERY thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  What we chose to meditate on MATTERS...

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

2Cr 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

So, having said all that, this day of making a point of dwelling on my blessings, and on truth and the lovely things in my life, has brought about a deeper joy and contentment in my heart, and has made me so grateful for even the small things that I think sometimes are so easily overlooked.  In the verse in Philippians that I am speaking of here, Paul tells us that IF we do these things he tells us to (meditating and dwelling on all the good and of course on Christ Himself) then...

Phil 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and THE GOD OF PEACE WILL BE WITH YOU!

And it is just soo true.  Soo, this week I am grateful for....

1.  The 3 day week-end that I enjoyed with my hubby which included our "date night" Sat.  My husband works in LA which is a good hour or better away every day (if the traffic is good, MUCH longer if it is not) one way of course, which means LONG LONG days for him.  He has been doing this for soo long he is used to it in a way, but it does mean for very limited time during the work week where we can really enjoy each other.  We look forward to those week-end mornings where we can sit and leisurely chat our mornings away over a cup or two of coffee, and 3 days to do this was just heavenly. 

2.  The play The Color Purple we went and saw on our date, which was our combination celebration of our anniversary and Valentine's Day. We saw at 2:00 in the afternoon, which turned out being just the perfect time.  It was soo good.  The singing was just spectacular, the cast members outstanding, and the company was perfect.  We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Then, we went to Old Tokyo and had dinner at a cute little restaurant in the middle of the square and had fantastic Sushi which I have been craving for a while.  It wasn't exactly diet friendly, but a gal has to take a break every once in  a while right?  After that we did a little browsing through the cute little stores and found just the most perfect dress for our daughter Melody that we just went ahead and bought it, and her daddy is shipping it overnight to her today, and so she should have it tomorrow.  It was just soo cute, and simply was calling her name from the hanger, haha.   My husband knows I have had a hard time with her being gone in general and how much pleasure I took in shopping for her, that I know he KNEW how much fun I would have surprising her with that.  She is working this semester as a student teacher for the 2nd grade, and REALLY could use the dress for work.  I am anxiously awaiting her to get it, put it on, take a picture of herself in it, and post it somewhere so I can see her in it.  I am thinking really cute with black leggings and your black knee boots Mel.  We finished the evening off with a stop at our local Golden Spoon frozen yogurt which is not only delicious, but IS very diet friendly!  And if all this wasn't enough, on Valentine's Day the next day he gave me a dozen red roses and just the nicest card.  I was feeling a little spoiled by the end of the day.  AND!  I just have to mention this too.  My oldest son Joe is a hopeless romantic at heart and has ALWAYS loved spoiling the women in his life on Valentine's Day.  He NEVER forgets me.  This year he brought me roses from his own garden, and balloons.  Soo sweet. 

3.  And finally this week I am grateful that I was able to grab an afternoon and take my 5 year old grandson Jeffie out to spend a little one on one time with him.  He told his daddy this morning, "I never get to do things with Grandma anymore daddy.  Can she pick up just me today without Cody?" haha  We used to do a lot of little things together because I took care of "just" him before his little brother was born.  But with the addition of Cody to my care, he is right, it has been awhile.  So we started with lunch, then got him a fresh new haircut, and then we went and saw the movie The Tooth Fairy....A silly movie which he found quite funny.  We finished the afternoon off with another stop at Golden Spoon.  Such a perfect afternoon.

I could go on and on as I can think of many other blessings, but I will spare you as again I have written such a long post.  I DO try to be more nipped (as Jimmy would say) but I just don't think it is in me.  I thank those of you who are praying for my son Jimmy who is on his trip to Costa Rica with the high school group from his church.  I haven't heard anything, which I am praying means all is well.  I will end this with another one of my favorite verses from Philippians...

Phl 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

You will be soo happy if you do, and fill your hearts with His peace as well.

Jeff & I before we left on our date. 

Cody at the park last week-end...loving life

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