Every year I put together an album of things that have happened in our world. People get so annoyed as I am always taking photos, trying to capture a moment so I can hold onto it forever.
So right now I am putting our 2017 album together…. I have captured so many memories this year, I can’t get them all into my photo book. But I am able to remember the holidays we have had, the visitors that have been through our home, the laughter, weddings, babies born, new friends, old friends, family time, dates with my hubby, feeding dolphins and so much more.
Often life becomes so full, we only look at what’s ahead, what we have to deal with or face next. There is not time to stop and look how far we’ve come or what we have been through that has helped us grow.
There is a balance, it is important not to live or dwell in the past, you want to be able to move forward and not be held back, but if we don’t know where we have come from or how far we’ve come, how can we grow to new levels or build off what has gone before? How can we find joy in the journey if we can’t celebrate the wins, the highs, the milestones that have already come and gone.
I have had to learn how to be in a moment and capture it at the same time. If I don’t, I only have pictures to look at, not memories to reflect on.
What things have you done this year that need to be celebrated? What has happened that you need to remember? What moments have set you up for what you are heading towards?
You may be thinking, there is nothing to celebrate, my year has been the worst one ever. But was there a moment that you smiled at someone and they smiled back? Was there a time that you spent time with family playing board games? Or perhaps just celebrating that you woke up today to take in a deep breath?
I have watched as a friend has posted each day on social media one thing she is grateful for after having a pretty crappy time. I can imagine to start that was incredibly hard, but she has persevered and kept it up. It has encouraged me and I am positive it is helping her. I remember a number of years ago she shared one of her favourite Bible verses with a group of us;
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
I believe because my friend has held fast, even when it hurt, to this verse and her faith, it has carried her through probably the hardest season of her life. And out the other side she is finding things to be grateful for, including memories from before the pain she has endured.
Can I encourage you to take time to enjoy each moment. Find something each day to be thankful for, to celebrate, to capture either in your heart and mind or in a photo. Make memories, don’t just let them pass you by.
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