Living Your Blessings

A grateful heart precedes a joyful heart. One of my favorite hashtags to share is #blessed, and the reason for that is that I truly feel that in my heart. I feel like no matter what happens, I've got my heart in the right place to really feel and appreciate all the blessings that God has graciously given me.

This hasn't been the case for my entire life, by any means. In fact, growing up and my first young adult years I lived with an ungrateful heart and that is stressful. It almost takes extra work to be Ungrateful towards situations. But, as I've grown, I've learned that in every situation God is working. His hands are on every stitch of our lives. He's hand selected every twist and curve we come to on our journey. That means something. It's incredible to think that He cares about us so much to have our lives planned out in advance. It's comforting to know that, and it makes you realize how grateful you should be knowing that.

Grateful for everything. I'm grateful for all of the downs of my life that allow me to appreciate the ups of my life. I'm grateful for trials because I know that I'll enjoy when they are over. I'm grateful for the people that God has placed in my life, because knowing they are there for a reason is a blessing in itself. I'm grateful for my family, and understanding that "family" can mean a variety of different things to different people. I'm grateful for self love and finding out that I need to take care of me first before anyone else in this world. I'm grateful for a lot, but that's taken practice.

Since my mindset has changed and I've learned how being grateful can bring joy in life, I can really FEEL my blessings around me. If you base our life around "standards" of the world, you would be sorely disappointed. But if you base our life around joy, it's a completely different story. God blesses everyone differently, because we're all on our own journeys and our own timings. But living life with a grateful heart can allow you to understand that and see that no matter what season you are in, God is blessing you. We can really start appreciating and loving that truth when we acknowledge Him in our choices. Choosing joy is preceded by a grateful heart, when we are grateful we are joyful. When we are joyful, we have a grateful heart. These go hand in hand.

Focus on living your blessings, focus on being grateful for all of the blessings God has given you and joy will come naturally. It's an understanding that no matter what season we are in, God's hand is in control. No stress trying to "control" our own lives anymore, learning to let go and listen to His plan. A grateful heart will bring joy every time. Live your #blessed life, friends!

-Stephanie

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