The vocation of gratefulness

Happiness is fleeting and so is time. But gratefulness makes the sweetness of each moment linger on just a little longer

These are my thoughts after a nice 4 day vacation. Usually I take time on my vacation to reflect and get in tuned spiritually but this time I kind of just lived in each moment.

Not that I don’t need to be better spiritually, but I wanted to soak up my moments so they wouldn’t fly away so fast.

And guess what? They still did.

But I made memories I won’t forget.

I bought my first handgun. I met my guy’s parents for the first time. I visited two different beaches. I spent good quality time with a college friend and we soaked up the sun.

And tomorrow I go back to work.

But I plan to go with a smile because although we get so wrapped up in our work, it is only a portion of who we are. What we do vocationally is a big piece of our time and our energy. But we are more than our name tags or for me, my “bylines.”

And when we clock out and go home, our impact is only beginning.

I’ve heard somewhere you make your biggest impact on people in your home.

I’m not sure if that’s true. But I’m thankful if it is.

And I’m grateful to be as loved as I am. No matter what happens at work or mistakes I make because I’m a human, there are beautiful people that surround me with arms open wide ready to cheer me back to my feet. My family. And my very few close friends.

And those people are the ones I draw courage and strength from when I fall. So thank you, Lord, for them.

I challenge you to think on that.

When you clock out, what’s left?

Are you working to live or living to work? And if you answer yes to the second portion, are you fulfilled?

Does your work matter? Absolutely!

Is there more to life than work? ABSOLUTELY.

Are we using our time to rest in Jesus and recharge? Are we following God’s calling on our lives and seeking him?

I hope we all intentionally set time apart this week to do just that. He is my “solid rock” and man He isn’t done with me yet.

And for all the times He’s blessed my face off, I can make some time to praise Him and let my days gratefully point to His Love and His Goodness. Can’t we all?