Last night was our last gathering as a group. It was my last time being a part of the Christian community I have been a part of for the past four years. I almost cried last night. But it wasn't because of sadness but because I was so incredibly thankful. These people have come to mean so much to me and I was getting ready to say goodbye. It was such a gift to have tears of joy rather than of sadness. And I felt so full to know that I was leaving something really really good. Leaving is only hard when you are leaving people who you love.
I'm so excited for this next season and chapter of my life but oh how I am going to miss my people. The community I have found at Brock is beyond anything I could've asked for or dreamed of having. I have found my family here and a home. I have found a place to belong and a place to speak my truth. I have found people who I can be authentically myself with; people who I can be with Jesus with. I have found deep connection. I am so thankful and I feel spoiled. To know that I am leaving this place full is all I could've hoped for. I have no idea how God is going to move in me as I go to Queen's. I have no idea what type of people I am going to meet there. But I know that God will be with me every single step of the way. I know that He has good things prepared for me in Kingston just as He had good things prepared for me at Brock. Even if those good things are not the same as I imagine them to be, I know that they will be good nevertheless. He is good and what a special gift it has been to draw closer to the Him as I've drawn closer to His people.
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What if joy wasn't as hard to find as we thought?
What if finding more joy was actually fairly simple? What if true joy started with truly being thankful for the life you have right now. I am not talking about thinking of the life that you could have, I mean being really thankful for the gifts God has given you right here, right now. What if in each season, our goal was to have an attitude of thankfulness in every circumstance? In Ann Voskamp's book, "A Thousand Gifts", she says this: "While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving." So, what are some things in your life right now that you know are gifts from God? In what ways has God come through for you during this week? How can you practice giving thanks more regularly? I don't know about you, but I don't want to miss out on experiencing joy because I refuse to pay attention to the beauty and goodness around me. I don't want to forget God in the midst of my everyday because I fail to look around me and instead choose to focus on myself. Joy is found by looking around and seeing the blessings of God in everything. Joy is found in being with the Creator of the Universe because in His presence is fullness of joy. Joy is found in giving thanks every moment you get because you never want to forget all that He's done. Joy is something that you have to fight for, it doesn't always come easily, and it isn't always a natural response. We rather focus on what's not working than acknowledge all the ways Jesus takes such good care of us. But I will choose joy because I want to remember God every chance I get. Thanksgiving reminds us that he is just as good as he says he is, and I want to know the goodness of God in the land of the living. |
AuthorRecent Brock & Queen's graduate and Third Year Teacher! I love to talk about life, justice and faith. Archives
July 2022
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