Blissfully Content

I hate that I forget about this blog so much. Every so often I stumble upon it and I definitely don't think it's on accident. Aside from my first post, all I ever write about is something I've been conflicted with or something I hope to achieve in the near future with my relationship with God. I forget sometimes to look at other parts of my life and be thankful for them.

I'm 2 weeks into my Junior year. I honestly can say that I can't think of anything being any better for me right now. I'm blissfully content. Sure, having a job would be a perk. Being in a relationship would be neat, but man, I haven't been this happy in a long time. God and I are great. I love my classes and am doing well in them so far. Friendships are beyond wonderful. Things just feel different, fresh, new, exciting.

I led a Bible study for the Junior High girls at my church this past Wednesday night and we talked about feelings. Simple I know, but it really stuck with me. We talked about how all feelings are good feelings, because they're gifts from God. It's how we react to our feelings that determine whether they are positive or negative. We talked a lot about how to react if we're upset or angry, but I really wish I had made more of an effort focusing on what to do with happy or thankful emotions. When we're upset our reactions can sometimes just explode out of us, so of course there's a need to learn how to control that and react to those situations with calm and clarity. But I find happy, especially thankful, emotions harder to display. When we're excited, yeah it shows, but what about happiness, thankfulness, contentment? I feel like sometimes I choke on it. Just before I do something to express my thanks to someone or tell them that I'm genuinely doing well, I stop.

After going through some emotional times in middle school and highschool I came to realize that a lot of what I was upset about wasn't the situations themselves, but how I looked at them. I realized through God that it wasn't the things in my life I needed to change, but how I looked at them and how I reacted. I learned to be optimistic about things, even grateful. And if there was something that did really need changing, then I would change it. I think I've forgotten how to look at life like that. My mom calls me Eeyore, because I'm so melancholy sometimes. I've learned how to react appropriately to my negative emotions, but I'm still struggling with how to react to the positive ones.

Ok, I just realized I'm talking about exactly what I didn't plan on talking about, but whatever. :-)

All this to say, things are fantastic right now. It's times in my life like these that I have to store in my mind and remember for when things aren't as bright. That's what keeps me going; remembering that moments like these will happen again. I want to not only cherish them, but take the time to remember who they come from and give thanks where thanks is due. So, I guess to put it simply, thanks God.


P.S. I just looked up the official definition for "bliss" and it says "a state of spiritual joy or perfect happiness." Isn't God just awesome?!