There was a song that I sang as a youth that was always special to me...It went like this... "Have you received His image in your countenance? Does the light of Christ shine in your eyes? Will you know Him when He comes again because you will be like Him? When He sees you will the Father know His child? We seek for light and learning as followers of Christ that all may see his goodness reflected in our lives when we receive his fullness and lose desire for sin we radiate his perfect love a beauty from within." This morning this song popped into my mind and I reflected on the many phases of my life! I'm grateful for them all as they have made me who I am today. A happy and loving Heather. I pray that He will know me as His child and will recognize my little light that I always try to keep shinin.
Since this was where my mind was this morning...I looked up quotes on gratitude, happiness and abundance! Here are some of the ones that touched me today.
"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never have enough" Oprah
As I reflect on all of the things that makes me HAPPY are also the things that I am so GRATEFUL for. So what comes first???
I truly believe that Gratitude comes first...I feel such an abundance daily because I am deeply grateful for everything in my life! I used to not express to what degree because i thought people would think I was silly that I actually would blow my nose and think man I wonder how much work it took someone to make the Kleenex I was using...Or when I would brush my teeth, I was grateful that i had a toothbrush or toothpaste and was glad that it was invented because I can have clean teeth! Yes, I truly eat the fruit and I am grateful for who planted the tree!
My dad wrote a list of 25 things about him that I still read often and it brings such JOY to me! And since this blog is also my journal and record for my children and family for the future I decided that I would add my list to my blog for the record.
So I started not that long ago compiling things in a notebook that make me happy and today I thought I would share some of them....
1. Life-How grateful to have a body that I can take care of or not take care of. I feel BEST when I am exercising and eating healthy to show that I am grateful for my body.
2. Health-What a blessing that I experience good health but have compassion for those that suffer ailments.
3. Sunshine-Makes me happy and warms my skin which warms my heart
4. Family- I LOVE THEM..not just my cool husband and honest and open daughter and loving and caring son, but my talented brother and my organized sister and my mother that's full of wisdom and my honorable dad that left an amazing legacy. My grandmothers that are beautiful women, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews... ALL OF MY FAMILY that have come into my life as a result of marriage...brothers in law and sisters in law and on and on! They are my dearest family and I love them ALL!!!
5. The Gospel- Cant imagine life without the guidance and plan of happiness that it provides.
6. Friends- I am blessed with heart strings that fulfill my life everyday!
7. Words- My heart is so full and I cant imagine not being able to express them without words
8. Choice- I get the chance to choose HAPPINESS everyday or I get to choose to make the best out of WHATEVER gets thrown in my face!
9. Acceptance- I am so thankful for those that accept me who I am.. deep, fun, expressive, and even those that love me even if I "share my whole life on FB" like some have said.
10. Blogs-I love writing mine and I love reading others insights..Blessed
11. Sun rays- I absolutely love seeing them..I feel like it represents many things... The love from up above, Gods loving arms reaching out to me. my kids sharing their love for me, my dad's wisdom and unconditional love shining down to me
12. Laughter- I cant live without laughing
13. PieShakes- I love banana cream...its my favorite! I miss it as I have been eating healthy! But I love it more because its my brother and sister in laws creation and dream that came alive! So every time I eat one I think of their satisfaction of creating something that was a dream come true!
14. Books- How grateful I am for knowledge that I can gain from
15. Quotes- They just inspire me and I know someone lived a lot of life to be able to write their thoughts that were captured in a quote!
16. Sunshine- One of my most favorite things ever.
17. Encouragement- There are many that have not encouraged me in life and so I am very grateful for those that have shared encouragement for me.
18.Holidays- Nothing better than taking a break from the world..slowing down and enjoying family. Many memories of holidays past make me happy!
19. FUN-I love it! There is nothing like silly FUN!
20. GLITTER- Now isn't that just the best creation ever...LOVE IT
21. Hope- It makes me happy to know that I have a knowledge that leads to daily HOPE. When all else fails I can cling to my hope until sunshine arrives and the cloud passes!
22. Handwriting- I love to write and have always enjoyed handwriting.
23. Photographs- I just love to take pictures to record moments and I love going back and enjoying them later.
24. February- Yes its the month that I was born but I also love it because its the LOVE month and I just love to see people express love to each other! Nothing more beautiful to me!
25. Surprises- The best! They always mean so much!
26. Passion- I love seeing someone be so into what they do..It energizes me!
27. Real People- There is nothing more inspiring to me to see people be true about who they are and where they come from weaknesses and all!
28. Quality time- I love spending that kind of time with people! It's greatness!
29. Animals- I love seeing the different personalities in each critter and how unconditional and loving they are!
30.Dancing- I feel so free when I dance! Something that has always brought happiness and still does.
31. Singing- I love to harmonize with everything!
32. Challenges- They are never easy but they always teach me something and make me a better person!
33. Road trips- The kids, the long roads, the music, reaching the destination...AWESOMENESS!
34. Inspiration- Nothing quite like it when you get that AHA moment!
35. Peace- Such a beautiful place!
36. Weekends- I love the FREE TO BE feeling! Families are mostly together and its just happiness!
37. JOY- I love looking for it cause its always right there...you just have to be open to receive it!
38. Thoughts- I love to explore in my mind...at times I have too many but I have learned to control the best thoughts!
39. Tennis shoes- I love having all different colors to match different outfits. Getting a new pair is happiness!
40. Memories- I don't know what I would do without them! They strengthen daily! Some don't make me so happy but they make me stronger!
41. Opinions- I really love that others can be true to themselves! I love sharing mine and I love hearing others too!
42. Questions- When I get questioned..I always learn!
43. Hugs- Man o Man...How I love hugs! To me it should be the handshake!
44. Love- I feel so complete! I love to love and I love sharing my love! I love my husband and he loves me back! Its a beautiful thing!
45. Seasons- I love all 4 of them! They each provide something different!
46. Rainbows- It just makes me smile!
47. Organization- It has made me happy to discover how to become organized because it was never something that came naturally.
48. Smiles-You just cant give enough of them. the universal symbol of kindness!
49. Generosity- The best feeling ever is to give...give your love, your time, your humor, your heart!
50. Change- Not always easy but you always become a "BETTER ME"
51. The breeze- Ahhhh just one of those things that is calming and relaxing! It just makes you feel right with the world.
52. Compliments- To me...giving an honest compliment is refreshing! I love making someones day with the true thoughts that I think of them!
53. Movies- A good movie is like a good book! You can learn and grow from a great message!
54. Dreaming- Such possibility! Makes me happy!
55. Facebook- I have always loved it! I use it for its best purposes and it has brought much connecting and fulfilment to me!
56. Balloons- I can't describe the HAPPINESS that those colored circles in the air bring to me! One of my most favorite things! I even buy a bouquet of balloons for myself to enjoy occasionally!
57.Flowers- The scent the beauty! Ahhh just love them!
58. Taking walks- Always a source of JOY! Family walks, alone walks, exercising walks...it doesn't matter they are always good! Family ones are my favorite and glad we do them often!
59. Kindness- even the smallest thing can brighten someones day!
60. Beautiful scenery- it brings such serenity! Pure happiness and gratitude for Gods creations!
I could go on and on and maybe another day I will! I just cant deny that its the little things in life that bring the biggest abundance! I invite you to create your own list, not only to bring out the best in your heart but that you have it in writing and one day those that love you will have a piece of you when you aren't around to witness all the gratitude that you have in you!
Find JOY in the things that make you HAPPY and the things that you have GRATITUDE for!
As you identify specifically what things you are grateful for it creates a HAPPINESS inside of you that shines out to others. Let His image shine in your countenance through your gratefulness which will in return.....GIVE YOU AN ABUNDANT LIFE!
