The Antidote

I was reading another book yesterday. The author, like most of us, wants to figure out a way to live life in such a way that circumstances don't determine her attitude, hope or trust in God. She writes:

That is how I wanted to be, I realized [watching a little boy twirling and dancing in circles, unencumbered and unselfconscious]. I wanted to be as a child, delighting in life, at peace with God, living in the grace of the moment. I wanted to live above the pull of depression and cultivate a heart of joy from which others could draw. I wanted to learn what it really meant to be filled with the reality of God, the love of God, and the joy of God every day, no matter what else is going on in my life (Dancing With My Father, Sally Clarkson).

What is the antidote for depression, anxiety, worry, sadness, stress and the cherry on top, that pesky all-encompassing feeling called OVERWHELMED?

Well, Jesus.

But also, gratitude.

Gratitude is the thing that loosens the muscles in our necks that get so stiff from looking down at all that is wrong and frees us to look up, to the One who is our help.

My heart is heavy, but I will look up. I will let gratitude change the direction of my eyes.

Here's some things I'm grateful for:

My best friend, who lives far away and who I haven't seen in almost three years, is coming to visit tomorrow. We're going to go to bookstores and coffee shops and I'm going to cook thai food for her. So excited.

My sister found out yesterday that she is having boy #2. This makes the count: Nephews - 4, Nieces - 2. Blessings.

I have the best church a girl could ask for. And they let me play the drums there.

What are you grateful for?