Beatitude Attitude {vol. 3}: Rejoice Always

The last week has contained a few days that have left me wondering exactly what the netherworld wants with me. In the wake of news that could leave anyone feeling as though the light might be fading, I am reminded that we are called to praise Him through the storm.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And so we give thanks and recognize the blessing hand of God in the midst of chaos and rubble, of tragedy and heartbreak, of simply crummy days we think may never end. Here are my seven praises for this week:

1) Blessed am I to have a husband that shares my sense of humor, who I can laugh with, cry with, pout with, and grow with, knowing that at the end of the day, we will wash off the day and start anew tomorrow.

2) Blessed am I with healthy children, even with their own little ailments. This week I am reminded that not every parent is so lucky.

3) Blessed am I to have meaningful work.

4) Blessed am I that God is patient and gentle in his correction of me.

5) Blessed am I to have some holy men as good shepherds in both our home parish and our "backup" parish who preach the name of Jesus, challenge us to live the Gospel fully, and preach the hard message of truth in our times.

6) Blessed am I that spring is coming here, and the sun has been shining at least a few times a week allowing for outside time with the littles.

7) Blessed am I to have joyful children who savor life and know Christ at such a young age, even through their tantrums and growing pains. I am amazed by them daily if I shed myself of the blinders of selfishness and busy-ness

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Join me in praising God through the storms of life and link up with this post below!

Beatitude Attitude [vol. 1]

I've been seeing and participating in linkups around the blogosphere and had a brainchild late last night while I was up with a very uncomfortable little boy....why don't I host a link up too? I'll probably only have 3 people, but hey, Jesus started small too. Then I wondered what it could be... I had tried running a blog called the Good News Gazette a few years ago sharing bits of joyful, good news to try to break through the bleakness that is network news most days. It proved to be a lot of work! While I'd love to eventually have the time to troll the interwebs for such stories (and the Cornhuskers gave us a great one this weekend), I prayed about what I might be able to offer as a link up that could be helpful and give glory to God. This morning provided me my answer.

Perhaps because this morning I needed to be intentional about counting my blessings, or perhaps because I really have been praying about how to be more thankful, or perhaps because Madame Blueberry is on repeat this morning to keep the peace, I realized that I need help in maintaining a 'beatitude attitude," (or beattitude, shall we say?). So Beatitude Attitude Tuesday is born, where I share seven blessings from our life and invite you to do the same. Perhaps together we can bring a little light into our own worlds so we can brighten the world around us... (Yes, I'm in Michigan and yes, it is a dreary morning. What?) So here we go:

1) Blessed am I when the babies want to snuggle in the morning. There is nothing more comforting than warm snuggles to start the day.

2) Blessed am I that the Hubbers really doesn't care for the most part that our living room looks like Tropical Storm G has passed through it within 10 minutes of waking. He has always wanted to experience a hurricane...though I'm not sure this was what he meant.

3) Blessed am I that the coffee is brewed most mornings by the time I get up with the kids, and I'm most aware of it on the mornings it doesn't greet me.

4) Blessed am I that God doesn't sigh at me as much as I sigh at my children. Crumbs on the floor and dumped out blocks will clean up just fine, with or without sighing.

5) Blessed am I that most mornings my children allow me to shower in peace without meltdowns.

6) Blessed am I when I get to finish a hot cup of coffee...it is a rare pleasure these days.

7) Blessed am I that I get bear hugs and chicken kisses and eat-my-face kisses from my little lovies. I know it will embarrass them one day too soon.

What are your blessings this week?

Easter Isn't Over: B is for Blessings & Beatitudes

I've shared before that I can be a bit of a "the glass is dirty" kind of person. In this Easter season, the challenge for me is to live as a woman of the beatitudes, counting my blessings in all circumstances and helping my family do the same. Often, I get discouraged if things turn out differently than I expect, even when it isn't categorically a bad thing. To live in the beatitudes is to see the blessing in each circumstance, to see God's work at hand.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; 

and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you 

and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, 

for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:1-12

In our poverty, we get a glimpse of heaven. If we do not have need of anything, if we are not poor in any way, we have no need of heaven or of God and do not long for him. In our grief, in our sorrow, in our troubles, God is with us. Being faithful doesn't mean we do not mourn or experience sorrow. It just means that we look to God for his peace and comfort instead of wallowing in our sadness. In all things good and bad, God is with us and worthy of our praise. Our joy, not to be confused with a false appearance of happiness, rests in Him. As one of our favorite songs goes:

Blessed be your name in the land that is plentiful, where your streams of abundance flow, blessed be your name.

Blessed be your name, when I'm found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be your name...

This Easter I need to do a better job of resting in the blessings of the Lord, in abundance and in the desert place. That he provides for us in great abundance is reason for great joy. That the desert places make us thirst more deeply for Him is a blessing in itself. I want our children to live out of a spirit of gratitude for everything, even hardship. I want them to be adept at recognizing the blessings that pour down upon them even in the valley. I want them to be able to praise God through the storm so the can be beacons of light set upon a hill for the whole world to see. I want them to radiate Christ, who was at his most radiant in the midst of the cruelest suffering. If I want this for them, I need them to see it in me.

Perhaps I will go back to having a blessings book to help me reflect on the blessings of each day. Perhaps we will make it a family book or better yet, a family board so it remains visible as a constant reminder that we are blessed beyond belief. Do you have any practices or traditions that help you to live out of your blessings either as a woman, mom, or family? I'd love to hear them!