January. I seem to always feel a little down and somewhat depressed this time of year. It’s cold in Indiana and although I love the snow, once it melts away, the land just looks dirty.
Christmas is my favorite time of year and I look forward to the holiday season starting in September celebrating fall and Thanksgiving and then, for me, the best time of the year. Then I prepare my goals for the new year and am excited to start fresh.
But I have such a hard time getting back into the swing of things. I procrastinate. I seem to start worrying more. I don’t know…maybe it’s because my mind isn’t as filled with busyness as it is during the holidays. But all I know is that I HAVE to get out of this low, lazy lull that I am in.
What seems to help me is to remember it’s not about me. Life. It’s not about me. It’s not about what others can do FOR me but rather what I can do for others. About what I can do for God. How can I make my little corner of the world a little brighter for others? And then it will start looking brighter for me.
Life throws us curve balls. Work isn’t always fun. People are not always kind. My ideas aren’t always others’ ideas. God didn’t call me to do what others are called to do and vice versa.
So today, I’m going to get back up. Kick myself in the bottom and get busy painting some sunshine in my corner of the world.
It’s up to us to show God’s love to others. We are in charge of our joy. It’s not about what HAPPENS to us. We all have bad days. But rather it’s about how we HANDLE what happens to us.
David cried out to God in Psalm 94:19 – [God,] when anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
I’m going to work real hard to find joy in my day, sunshine in my path and spread that joy everywhere I go to overcome the anxiety within me and let Christ bring joy to my soul. Who wants to paint some joy with me today?
