Some mornings are plain hard, aren’t they? The climb out of the mental fog is slow. These four little sentences printed on my favorite coffee mug help set my mind and attitude for the day.
“It’s a new day. I am alive. I am loved. I am thankful.”
It’s easy to stay in a funk, so we aim high. As the brain and body warms up, we think up. We thank God for the mug warming our hands. This tiny bit of gratitude gets our minds moving on the right track.
“It’s a new day.” ~ Yesterday was a tough one, Lord. But, we made it through. Thank You.
“I am alive.” ~ Yes. I’m a bit stiff and there’s a lot going on, but I have a pulse and a heartbeat. Thank you.
“I am loved.” ~ Yes, God. We’re a messy bunch. For family and friends, I am so very thankful.
And so we begin our day: Resting.
Because the Creator of our heartbeat also holds the constant rhythms of the seasons and sunrises. He sees us, knows us, and loves us. Completely, thoroughly, absolutely.
And nothing changes that.
Let’s pause and read that again. Give it a minute to trickle from our head to our heart.
In this safe place, we reclaim our power. To flip our anxious thoughts. To not be reactive, but proactive.
What can I learn? Who can I bless?
We aren’t designed to be controlled or defined by the emotions swirling around in our head. We can change our thoughts, our attitudes, and our responses. We are resilient and we are creative.
There will be less people around my Thanksgiving table. This bums me out a bit. But it doesn’t make me less thankful. So, I’m flipping this shift in our plans. I’m seeing it as an opportunity to do something new.
Every morning, we choose: Will we live by faith or by feelings?
Faith = Feelings Aside, I Trust Him.
It’s a new day. We are alive. We are loved. We are thankful.
Because of grace, we have thanksgiving every day. It’s not limited to “turkey and gravy; instead, the discipline of gratitude allows the thread of thankfulness to weave its way through the joys and sorrow of daily life.” ~ Major JoAnn Shade, Salvation Army
Melissa Henderson says
Love this! Yes, let’s live by faith. Amen.
Robin Melvin says
Hi Melissa! By faith. All else is “sinking sand.” Thank you for commenting here. I hope all is well with you and your family. What are you writing these days?
Cathrine says
Hi Robin! I love this attitude of gratitude:)
PTL for his goodness!
Thank you for sharing this perspective.
So far, this is the first of your writings that I’ve read. I’m looking forward to reading the rest in “Robin’s Nest”.
Robin Melvin says
Hi Cathrine! So good to see you here! I hope you and your family are doing well. Thank you for taking time to read my blog and for your encouragement. Grace and peace to you💗☮