SAYS FYL

My scribbles while meditating . . .

“And God blessed them, saying . . .” — Genesis 1:22

To be blessed is to be happy. Here God speaks to every bird, animal, and insect: Go on now. Multiply, live, do your thing. Your very existence is about being blessed, about being happy!

And He says this knowing that sin was on the horizon. He said it anyway, because this is His vision for His creatures: joy.

One of the primary purposes of living as God’s creation is to find joy in life. A lifetime sprinkled with moments of joy seems possible, but a life where every day bursts with joy feels impossible. Yet if that’s God’s desire for me—despite the broken world I live in—it must mean I’m predisposed, divinely engineered, for a consistent heart of gratitude. Every day. No matter what.

Sadness, fear, disappointment may weigh me down—but gratitude is buoyant and determined. It rises to the top. Many years ago, I decided to end each day by naming three reasons to be grateful. That practice has made me more optimistic, patient, and content. And (bonus!) it’s also made me an easier person to live with.

Featured image generated by AI

For other scribbles, go here.