When Life Gives You Lemons

A New November Challenge

Nov 05, 2024

November is synonymous with gratitude and thankfulness due to the holiday we celebrate every year on the 4th Thursday of the month that shares the same intentions.

That being said, if you spend any amount of time on social media during this time of the year you wouldn’t be surprised to see what’s commonly referred to as the Thanksgiving Challenge. To be fair, if there’s ever a social media challenge to participate in, this is the least harmful. The Thanksgiving Challenge has its participants share something they are grateful for each day of November.

I’m not sure if you noticed, but I have been MIA on Substack as of late. Life has been life-ing. But the bad part is that I allowed it to keep me from being an active participant in my life. Instead, I found myself going through the motions. It was all I could do to keep pressing forward. Can you blame me? All that being said, I’ve decided to be intentional about my gratitude. After all, if I’m able to find things to be thankful for and focus on those things how will I have space for negativity to creep in? Isn’t that what Philippians 4:8 reminds us of:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

However, I want to go beyond gratitude lists—although I still believe in their significance. I think it’s really important to remember the things that the Lord has done for you in the past because it helps you to lean on hope when the storm in front of you seems like it’s ready to take you under. While I think it’s important for you to be reminded of what the Lord has brought you through in your past, I think it’s equally as important to be reminded of what He does in our lives every single day. After all, we can so easily take so much for granted. We just have to be willing to take the time to recognize those things.

Lately, there seems to be a theme of gratitude…with a kick. In my devotional group, we are currently working on a study on Choosing Gratitude. It’s a 10-day study through the YouVersion Bible app and each day has a different focus for where we can extend our gratitude. On the day that we discussed having a “home team” which is how the author described having community, one of the ladies shared how she writes in her journal ways that God has used her community to support and encourage her for the week. I remember thinking how that idea was so simple yet so profound so much so that I wanted to implement it.

Then this past Friday, I went to an open mic night where someone took the time to ask the audience in the face of what was Hurricane Milton, what were some things we were grateful for. That’s not a typical question one would ask in the aftermath of a storm that left behind so much destruction in its wake, but it was needed.

With this question fresh in my mind Saturday, I was able to see the good that came from my fence being knocked over. Not that I had too much trouble to begin with, after all I couldn’t complain much since we had maintained power despite some flickering, meanwhile there were others that lost so much. My Pastor and two other members of our church family came over to start work on my fence which was generous all on its own but when I really soaked it all in, I could see God’s fingerprints all over it. The fact that I have a Pastor not only willing to gather others to help someone else in need, but he was also willing to be an active participant in the work that needed to take place is mind blowing to me. You have to understand that I grew up Catholic so my view of church leadership is different. I’ve always seen pastors and priests as authority figures that were kept at a distance. I never in my wildest dreams would’ve thought I could have a personal relationship with my pastor and his family. There was also a member of my church family whose very presence blessed me because he was a living, breathing miracle. About a year ago, he was involved in a devastating car accident that left doctors doubting he would’ve survived let alone make a full recovery. Yet, there he was walking around my yard giving his all in the process of taking down my fence. To top it all off, with parts of the fence down and the help of our Pastor we were able to meet a neighbor we haven’t had the pleasure of being introduced to before now. This allowed the opportunity for a blossoming friendship between my kids and theirs. None of which would’ve been possible otherwise.

I know enough about God to know that when you have reoccurring themes like this it’s because He wants it to sink in. I share all that to say that I want to make it a point to not only take inventory of my many blessings big and small but to also see God’s beauty everywhere, every day. So I realize we’re already 4 days into November but will you all join me in participating in a new November challenge identifying and celebrating the beauty in everyday life? A Beautiful Awakening Challenge will require you to look at life through a new lens. Will you set aside time in your busy schedule to reflect on your day and look at life through Paul’s eyes:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Philippians 4:12

When we do this we’re not only thinking of ourselves by only thinking about what God has done for us but we turn our gaze off of our worries and the ongoing storm in our life and back on God as our Creator and the works of His hands which includes you and me!

I’ll go first!

As much as I enjoy the beautiful colors created in the morning sky when the sun dances behind the clouds (the one benefit I can find to Daylight Savings ending besides gaining an hour), my students expressing their love for me through their kind words and hugs, the beauty I was able to uncover from the reflection staring back at me despite the flaws and I’m sure countless other moments from today, I was able to find the Lord’s beauty in a way I won’t soon forget. I was walking out the door of the lab after getting some bloodwork done and I was stopped in my tracks by a little one with the deepest, biggest brown eyes threatening to drown me in them. He looked up at me with the sweetest curiosity and look of complete and genuine awe that I didn’t know what to do with. That is the image that will linger in my mind’s eye for a long while. That face reminded me so much of my own son’s and how much time has passed since he was that small. The innocence that was painted all over his face captivated my heart and was a much needed reminder of God’s beauty and how it can be found almost anywhere as long as I was willing to look.

How was God’s beauty reflected in your day today?

Marie-France’s Substack

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