When Gifts Become Stars

Stars now pepper the pages of my journal. I have decided to intentionally watch for daily gifts and write them down, marking them with stars, so I can remember how wonderful my life is.

It's easy to dwell on the hard stuff. These little star gifts change my brain patterns to make my whole life feel better.

For example, here are some of the stars:

* Rick had a good grandpa talk with grandson today.

* A girl at the McDonald's counter said I was the "coolest grandma" she'd ever seen.

* One of my authors called to tell me our Zoom interview had 800 views.

* The drywall and taping are done on our flip house.

* Daisy (dog) is all better after being sick for three weeks.

* I got to spend time talking to one of my favorite authors.

* Son and grandson came to help Rick with the flip house.

* Someone told me I "carry peace."

• Daughter texted that a robin red breast in her yard reminded her of me.

• I have a new friend.

There are so many more. They are small, yet they are so big to me. There is at least one star for almost every day this year. Just going over these now makes my heart swell happy. If I hadn't written these down, they may have been forgotten or lost behind doom thoughts.

I'm so thankful for each day and each star.

For more on my writing life, visit my website and You Tube channel. www.christinetracy.com.

Who Can I Help Today?

The other day I was unpacking boxes and found a bunch of old journals. While there were delightful memories of cute things my children said; adventures we shared; and wonderful prayers I penned; there were also some dark passages. My journals served as a wilderness therapist on my mountain in Colorado. I brought to them my uncertainties, my griefs, and my dark thoughts, along with my ideas, dreams, and goals. 

The tapestries of our lives are made up of good and bad; light and dark; rough and smooth; aren't they? 

My journals exposed some new truths to me, and reminded me of prayers that were never answered, highlighted by many cries to my God: "Will you please help me?"

I have heard it said God doesn't hide His promises and gifts from us; but He hides them for us to search out and find. So this week God gently, through my imagination, told me that I had been asking the wrong question. Instead of the "help me" prayer, I should try asking "Who can we help today?" In so doing, he showed me, I would find the answer to my first prayer, because as He helps others through me - He opens up my own spirit and soul to receive so much more "help" from Him. The flow is like a living stream that brings color and light and refreshing to not only my own soul - but to that of the person He shows me to bless.

My book, "Tapestry, The Divine Design for Your Life," is available for print and Kindle: https://amzn.to/3tplkBN