Don't Get So Comfortable That You Forget to Appreciate Your Blessings

Think about it for a second. The home you're constantly cleaning is a home you once dreamed of having. The kids who leave toys all over the floor and ask you a million questions a day are the same babies you prayed for and couldn't wait to hold. The husband who leaves his shoes in the middle of the floor is the person you once couldn't wait to build a life with. The job that sometimes stresses you out is an opportunity you once hoped would come your way. Even the busy schedule that has you running around all week is filled with people, responsibilities, and opportunities that are blessings in themselves. Isn't it funny how quickly the things we once wished for can become the things we complain about?

 

And listen, I'm not saying we can't have hard days. Because goodness, we all have them! You can be thankful for your children and still feel exhausted by motherhood. You can love your husband more than anything and still get annoyed over the little things. You can be grateful for your job and still look forward to Friday. Being blessed doesn't mean your life is perfect, and being grateful doesn't mean you have to pretend everything is sunshine and rainbows. It just means learning to recognize the good even when life feels a little messy.

 

I think sometimes we get so caught up in what's next that we forget to enjoy what's right in front of us. We're thinking about the next house, the next vacation, the next goal, the next big milestone, or what we want our lives to look like a year from now. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with having dreams! I think God places certain dreams and desires on our hearts for a reason. But I also think there's something really special about being able to sit in the middle of the life you have right now and say, "Thank You, Lord. I really do have so much to be thankful for."

 

Something I've been trying to remind myself is that the little things aren't actually little. Having dinner together as a family, hearing your kids laugh in the other room, getting a random phone call from your mom, having a husband to come home to, spending time with your sisters or girlfriends, or simply waking up healthy enough to enjoy another day. Those are the things that make life so sweet. And sometimes we're so busy looking for the big, exciting moments that we overlook the beautiful, ordinary ones happening right in front of us.

 

I also think it's important to remember that not everyone has what we have. And I don't say that to make anyone feel guilty, because we all have our own struggles and seasons. But sometimes a little perspective can completely change our attitude. The family gathering that feels like another thing on your calendar is something someone else would give anything to experience one more time. The bedtime routine that seems to take forever is a moment another mom is wishing she could have back. The ordinary Tuesday that doesn't seem special at all might actually be one of the sweetest seasons of your life, and you just don't realize it yet.

 

And another thing I've learned is that appreciation shouldn't just be something we feel. It should be something we show. Tell your husband you appreciate how hard he works. Thank your parents for the things they still do for you. Tell your friends how much their friendship means. Hug your babies a little longer, even when the day has been chaotic. Don't assume the people you love already know how much they mean to you. Sometimes the smallest words and gestures can make someone feel so loved and valued. We should never get so used to having good people in our lives that we forget to make them feel appreciated.

 

One of my favorite reminders comes from James 1:17 (NKJV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." I love that verse because it reminds me that the blessings in our lives aren't things we should ever take for granted. They are gifts from God. The big ones, the small ones, and even the ones we don't always recognize right away. And I truly believe that when we start looking at our lives through a heart of gratitude, we begin to notice just how much goodness has been there all along.