Think On These Things

Sometimes, I am mentally and emotionally worn out at the end of a week. I was reading a newsletter (Phylicia Masonheimer's Conlectio. Check it out!) and she was talking about how the heavy of the world and the heavy of her world can get to be too much. She can only handle one heavy at a time. I completely agree. I think that we can get caught up in all the heavy and forget that there is still good. It might take some intentionality to seek it out, but it's there. Or maybe we need to remember what has been. We need to "think on these things".

In the Bible, Israel is CONSTANTLY referring back to their history. God tells them to erect monuments or observe festivals to remember what He has done for them. And yet they forget. Over and over. Humans have very short memories when things get hard.

Philippians chapter 4 contains one of my favorite passages of Scripture. Verses 4-8, in particular. There is a lot packed into a few verses but at the end, Paul says "think on these things". What things? Things that are excellent, praiseworthy, pure, noble, honorable, right, and lovely. Part of me wonders if he would also call them to think about the things God has done. See, this is at the end of him talking about battling anxious thoughts and anxiety stems from worry, right? Why would we worry if we know who God is and what He has done? (I'm speaking to myself here, totally!!!)

Okay, this is getting a little bit heavy, but here is the point I wanted to make - let's think on the good things. The happy things. Big or small (and usually they are small), let's make them the main focus of our thoughts. I have what I call "Sarah's Very Happy List" and it is the things that have meant the most to me in my life. Blessings that I want to remember and be thankful for over and over again. But I also like to just reflect sometimes on the little things that happen in my day-to-day life that are so good. Here are a few that have happened in the past week-to-10-days:

• I got a letter from a friend who's never written to me before. She took time to sit down and write to me and that means so much!
• Snap streaks with my cousin. Even though he sends me photos with barely any of his face, he's interacting with me.
• Getting selected for a book review team for an author I really like. If I sign up for a Revell book, I always have gotten one, but if I really, really want it, I wait impatiently to get confirmation and then I get REALLY excited!
• Miguel Cabrera hitting his 500th career home run. I like being alive for some good, fun history!

Some things are fun and trivial or only mean something to me, but I challenge you to think about what are things that you are grateful for that have happened lately? What has brightened your day or put a smile on your face? What are small things that you could thing on? If you're feeling brave, leave them in the comments. I'd love to rejoice with you!


I'm not a therapist or counselor or anything like that so this is not medical or licensed advice. Just thoughts from my own experience and life.