don't try so hard

      Maybe you don’t have to try so hard today.

“He gave you His love, and He’s not leaving. . . . You’re lovely even with your scars, . . . so open up your lovely heart, and don’t try so hard.” Lyrics by Amy Grant and Ben Glover 

“Like a baby content in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content.” Psalm 131:2

a joyful surprise

      If you think that God is out to ruin all your fun, you’re in for a joyful surprise.

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard -- things like . . . joy and gladness. . . .” Galatians 5:22

“May the Son of God . . . grow in you, so that . . . in you He will become laughter, exultation, the fullness of joy which no one can take from you.” Isaac of Stella

welcome and accept

      Choosing to welcome and accept somebody is a lot more enjoyable than choosing to judge and criticize.

“Welcome and accept each other, just as Christ welcomes and accepts you. . . .” Romans 15:7

“Love is the true means by which the world is enjoyed. . . .” Thomas Traherne

listening well

      One giant step toward listening well is gently noticing how often you aren’t listening well (and why).

“Humility in listening means that we let go . . . of the need to be right . . . and we let go of the need to appear wise . . . in order to be present with the other.” Alice Fryling

“[Q]uick to listen, slow to speak. . . .” James 1:19

as a garden

      If God is planting good seeds in a difficult person you know (and watching and waiting and enjoying every sign of new growth in her), it might be fun to start watching and waiting and enjoying with Him.

Father, please help me to imagine ­­­_____’s life as a garden, as You do.

“God . . . calls into being that which does not yet exist.” Romans 4:17

you don't understand

      When hard things happen and you don’t understand what in the world God is doing, maybe it’s an invitation to trust even when you don’t understand.

“So [Curdie] stepped straight in -- I will not say without a little tremble at the thought of finding no floor beneath his foot.” George Macdonald

“Jesus answered, ‘You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear to you later.’” John 13:7