LIFE IS PRETTY AMAZING

By Diane Forrest

In choosing this article this morning I looked at this picture.  Life is pretty Amazing!  So I started thinking about that.  What's so amazing about it?  I have been going through some hard times lately, my life and plans have not turned out the way I expected, then I thought about this song " what ever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger” and I think, well I am still here, but then I think God may have more confidence in me than I do.

But then I realize that God never gives us more than we can handle, and he is always there right beside us to help us out.  It’s like that poem, " Footprints" written by Mary Fishback Powers:

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

I have an amazing family, wonderful friends, a nice cool home and a full refrigerator and my trusty companion, Snoopy.  I am not rich in money, but I am wealthy beyond belief in the things that matter such as love and support from friends and family.  I live in a country that is free, and this morning I am getting dressed to go to church to worship how I please without any fear of persecution.  I will then have a hot lunch with my parents, and with any luck a nice lazy afternoon either napping or watching a movie.  Yes, when I think about it, Life is Amazing.  I saw an article online by Marcella Chamerro on tinybudah.com where she lists 20 reasons why life is amazing.  They include:

1. Courage grows when we choose to open up to another person in a way that creates more connection.
2. After rain stops falling, dewdrops sprinkle our gardens with incredible beauty.
3. A gesture as simple as holding someone’s hand slows our heart rate to a calm and peaceful state, as if by magic.
4. As much as we teach them our ways, children represent an immense learning experience for all adults to find more play and joy in life.
5. Simplicity in communication, design, and thinking will always win out over the complex, both in business and personal affairs.
6. When forming our emotions and actions, how we speak to ourselves within our own minds is much stronger than what anyone else can say to us.
7. Every single morning represents a new opportunity to live the life we always dreamed of.
8. Every single action we choose to take—like when you chose to read this—is a representation of our priorities in life.
9. The power of a shared connection can change our entire outlook on a problem, through empathy, support, and a comforting hug.
10. Moments of sadness and loss are the times we feel most appreciative for our lives, like a pick-me-up that is hard-coded into our brains to alleviate pain.
11. Our bodies are automatically programmed to reject all kinds of extremes (including drinking water), leading us to a path of moderation and balance.
12. While material goods might create momentary happiness, our best moments as humans come from joyful experiences.
13. As each of us grows and changes, we build layer upon layer of amazing personality traits and expertise, which creates new, improved versions of ourselves as time goes on.
14. Even fear can be helpful. The activities and experiences that we fear are usually the ones that provide us with the best experiences.
15. Our minds and bodies are responsive to the care we give them. If we exercise both, they will both improve. If we don’t, they won’t. It’s in our hands to choose.
16. The key to closer human connection is giving more of one’s own self. A material gift could never bring us closer together than a conversation.
17. As time passes, the human connections we make—friends, family, acquaintances—flow in and out our lives. The choice to reel them in when we need them is completely ours for the taking.
18. Learning comes strongest when it is derived from a mistake. Sometimes, the worse the mistake, the better the learning.
19. Each person has a distinct way to overcome personal obstacles. For some, comedy helps ease the pain, while others might choose music or sports. Each of us can find our own way to happiness.
20. While finding never-ending joy may be difficult, finding happiness is much easier—through peace of mind and mindful choices. When we change our perception of happiness, it is obvious that it’s ours for the taking.

What are some of the things that make your life amazing?