Thankfulness in valleys.

This weekend, I was in the mountains of northern Georgia and was reminded of something I have been learning: God is good, all the time. His faithfulness exists in the highest and lowest places.

I don’t stop to thank God for his provision and blessing often enough. Or I praise him when I am standing firmly on top of the mountain, but not when I descend into the valleys of life. Yet, there is so much in my life for which he deserves thanks.

Here are a few things that I have been blessed with and feel incredibly thankful for lately:

Rain storms. These have occurred constantly in the last few weeks and I love sitting on my porch, watching and listening to the rain pour down.

Encouraging friends. I am surrounded by people who care, listen, and speak truth into my life.

Coffee shops. The perfect places for intentional, edifying conversations. Or just a good cup of coffee.

Loving family. Two parents, three bothers, and a new sister. I am so grateful to have a home where I feel comfortable and yet challenged.

Yesterday, while looking down into a valley, the words of Psalm 40:1-3 came into my head.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set me feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.”

God deserves glory and a hymn of praise for all that he has provided for me, but also simply for who he is. And sometimes I need to be reminded of that.

Truth and beauty.

i thank You God for most this amazing

day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth

day of life and love and wings: and of the gay

great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any- lifted from the no

of all nothing- human merely being

doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and

now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

ee cummings