Think About It (02/20/2025)

Have you ever noticed that when you intentionally choose something, you begin to notice it everywhere? Buy a new white car, and suddenly you realize how many white cars there are on the road. Choosing opens us to seeing our choice more easily. How could we change our world if we chose “admirable” every day? If we choose to be grateful? If we choose to live Christ?

I remember reading a book years ago that suggested beginning and ending each day with a gratitude statement. I decided to give it a try. Wow! I have never been the same. I found that the more I chose gratitude, the more open I was to seeing a reason for gratitude in my life and world. I began to notice what others were doing for me that I wasn’t noticing before. I noticed the LORD’s power and presence more easily in my life and my world. Choosing gratitude opened my eyes to all I was blessed with daily.

Do you know an individual who is gracious and grateful? A person who is thankful for whatever you do? Is their gratitude, their thankfulness intentional? Did they choose to be grateful and that opened them to see all there was to be grateful for in their lives? It works that way. Truly it does.

Paul knew this. In his letter to the Philippians, he wrote: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Paul understood the importance of choosing, the importance of being intentional about who we will be. If we choose truth, we find truth in the moments of our lives. If we choose righteousness, we find the opportunity for it moment to moment and we notice it in our relationship with others.

Abraham Lincoln wisely said, “People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” I don’t know about you, but I took Abe at his word. And I made up my mind shortly after reading those words that I was going to be happy. That doesn’t mean that sadness doesn’t enter my world or my mind or my heart. It does. But that’s not where I live. That’s not where I choose to stay. I choose to live as the “beatitude person” Christ calls me to be…Blessed or Happy.

As we continue our journeys of faith, hope and love, let us consciously and intentionally choose to be joyful people, people of faith, people who choose daily to pick up our crosses and follow in Christ footsteps. Let us be individuals who daily choose Christ and all the grace and blessings that come with that choice including the recognition of all those around us who are on the same journey.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.