Keep On The Sunny Side

 

“There’s a dark and a troubled side of life
There’s a bright and a sunny side too
Though we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view

Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way
If we’ll keep on the sunny side of life” “Keep On The Sunny Side” by A. P Carter

The struggle of being positive might be harder than it would seem. You may consider yourself to be a generally optimistic person who tries to look on the bright side of things — or maybe you’re a pessimist, attempting to see things more realistically. Regardless, it is healthy to focus on the good in life, and to try to grow in the area of finding it.

What do you do when a negative thought enters your mind? Do you push it down or aside, trying to simply discard it? Do you dwell on it for a long period of time? I find that I dwell on those thoughts for a while. I used to think that I deliberated subconsciously, and that I couldn’t help but think about those thoughts – they were out of my control. But lately I’ve realized that isn’t true. I am in control of my thoughts. I had simply not cared to escape that unpleasant thought process enough to try and get rid of them.  

The more I considered this, the more I noticed when troubling thoughts popped into my head. I hadn’t always realized how much I dwelled on what someone said or did, or what I had or hadn’t done. As I became gradually more aware to how much time I spent on negative thoughts, I realized just how incredibly unhealthy it is!

Now, whenever I notice myself going down the path of brooding, I stop myself, and ask God to take away these thoughts – then I deliberately think of something completely unrelated. I am encouraged, as day by day, it becomes easier to choose joy! At the start of this journey to banish unwanted thoughts, I picked a certain topic to think about when I get upset. I chose nature, because nature calms me down and reminds me of God’s presence in everything – plus, nature is such a big topic that I can lose my train of thought pretty quickly.

I recently started a new devotional, called Joy and Strength by Candace Cameron Bure and brought to the YouVersion Bible app by Dayspring. The first day of this devotional is titled “A Healthy Dose of Gratitude.” It talks about finding something to be thankful for in each and every moment, and I find this practice wonderful and effective. Not only does thanking God bring Him praise, it centers our hearts back off of us and onto God and positivity. Candace Cameron Bure mentions how finding gratitude is simple, because it can be found everywhere, and in any form!

“God’s gifts don’t need fancy packaging to qualify for gratitude. Most of life happens in the small surprises and simple pleasures. That means anything counts! From an extra-long hug from your child, to another driver letting you in front of them during a rough commute, to trying on a beautiful new shade of lipstick or enjoying a taste of chocolate after a good meal, God’s goodness is all around. We just need to be watching for it.” – Candace Cameron Bure

If it makes you happy, thank God for it! It doesn’t need to be something huge or monumental. Every day doesn’t have to be revolutionary, but it can still be special if we look hard to find the joy in the ordinary. Did a math lesson take 10 minutes less to do? Thank God for 10 extra minutes of free time. Did you have an exciting dream last night? Thank God for blessing you with a happy night of sleep. Did you spill your coffee all over the kitchen table? Thank God for providing you will coffee in the first place! The more thanks we give, the less we focus on the negative because we are too busy thanking the LORD to “give the devil a foothold”! (Ephesians 4:27)

 My prayer for you is that God will open your eyes to how much time is spent on bad thoughts. Even if someone else is completely in the wrong and you have a hard time justifying their actions, do not think about it for longer than necessary. Trust me, it’s for your own health. Soon enough, practicing gratitude, positivity, and praise will become how you naturally live your life. One place you will always be – no matter how many times you move or travel – is in your own head. I pray that we all can fill our minds with constant and overflowing joy, so that our heads are a wonderful, God-praising place to live!

 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 

  “‘In your anger do not sin.’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27
 

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

  “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5, emphasis added.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

Cotton Candy Clouds

Pink clouds above, hover in the air

Canvas over the shining sun’s glare.

Swiftly floating on the course of the breeze

their admirable colors fill me with ease.

Puffy and fluffy and soft as moss:

pink and blue clouds like fairy floss.

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Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Hey There!

You may have heard the saying “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” which means that time away from someone or something makes you miss its presence. In the midst of these hard times with COVID-19 and shutdowns across the world, I want to encourage you to focus on the good things before quarantine. Think of all the fun activities, time with friends and family, and other enjoyments that make you happy. I don’t mean to make you dwell on them and discourage you, but to show you all the benefits and importance of them. 

In this unexpected and uncharted season of life, I’ve had a lot of time to do some thinking. Reflecting on the past, on my relationships and friendships, on my inward self, and most importantly God’s promises. Through all this thinking, there have been times of sadness and missing what was before the shutdowns – but there have also been times of peace and relaxation due to not going anywhere, which surprised me. I guess what I’m trying to say is: quarantine doesn’t have to be bad if you don’t make it. Focusing on creative ways to stay busy has led me to try some hobbies that I haven’t touched in a while, and to test some new things. I’ve learned the importance of resting when I feel my body needs it, and the importance of staying active and being physical. 

Through these times I have come to understand and root myself in God’s truths, and I am constantly being reminded of Romans 8:28:

“And we know that all things work together for good, to those that love God.”

I know that this quarantine happened for a reason. We can’t appreciate what we don’t have, but we can learn to appreciate what we do have. I think this tough situation is a blessing in disguise: time away from our family, friends, and activities can teach us the importance of them. It can also teach us the importance of friendships, and show us how strong our relationships are. Looking back on all the things that are cancelled can be disappointing, but when the world is reset back to normal, we are all going to appreciate what we have a whole lot more. After all, absence makes the heart grow fonder. ❤

 

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

True Friends

Hey There!

Have you ever felt drained after talking to one of your friends? Does it feel like all the conversations are about is them? I’ve felt that way, too. Sometimes, friends can get a little too comfortable (us included), that they don’t realize if their conversations only point towards them and what they’re up to. It can be exhausting to be the ear for others to talk into about whatever is going on in their life, especially if they don’t do the same for you. It’s easy to just paste on a smile and nod your head occasionally when these things happen, but sometimes it’s better to pull back a bit and let them do some of the work, too. My sister is constantly reminding me that 

Friendships are a two way road. It takes two people to do the work, not just you.

When situations like these come up, it’s ok to reply to what the other person is talking about, and state an experience you’ve gone through or something you’ve done that is relatable to the conversation. It can remind them that you would like to share your life with them, too. If they ignore what you said, try again – everyone deserves a second chance. If they still don’t pay attention, then pull back a bit. Maybe don’t comment as much, or (depending on the circumstances) politely leave the conversation all together. If you’re in a group of people, let them finish what they’re saying, comment, then politely tell them there are a few other people you would like to touch base with. If you are chatting online or texting, tell them you have things that need to be done. It’s important to take care of yourself, and taking a step back to clear your head can do wonders. Friends are supposed to listen to one another and have each other’s backs. 

It can be hurtful when friends don’t seem interested in what you are talking about, but sometimes that is a sign that God is telling you to move on. It can be painful, especially if they are a close friend, but which is more important (and healthy) to you: maintaining a friendship that you’re not getting what you want out of it, or finding a new friend who is great at talking AND listening? True friends will care about what you say, and want to hear you say it. 

Also, don’t cut off the friendship too soon. It’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes, and not to be too harsh on someone, because everyone appreciates receiving grace – even if they don’t realize their mistake yet. I think that is one of the bravest and kindest things we can do: extending grace when the other person didn’t realize they needed it. After all, we most likely don’t know everything that is going on in their life. They could be struggling with something under the surface and need some support, or maybe they just had a bad day! 

I hope this helps inspire you to evaluate your friendships and make healthy decisions. 🙂 

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” Matthew 18:15-17

 

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

Sunset Poem

Through the silhouettes of the trees and over the skyline

Flashes pink, blue and shades of wine.

Through the black wavy veins

the sun can be seen as it wanes.

Gorgeous colors all vibrant and bright

Catch the eyes of a family saying goodnight.

As the day continues to cease,

You can see God’s masterpiece. ❤

 

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

Comforting Others

Hello there!

When you see someone who is upset or stressed, what do you do? Do you pretend not to notice, or do you offer comfort? Do you try to help as much as possible to make them feel better, or do you go about your business as if nothing’s wrong? Sometimes helping others is awkward – when you don’t know what to say or do – but that is not an excuse to ignore comforting them.

“So in everything, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Matthew 7:12

You have probably heard this said a lot, but I challenge you to read it slowly and re-understand what this Bible verse says. How often do we actually do to/for others what we would want done to/for us? Sometimes, it feels like it is easier to remember this verse only after the moment. But always remember: you do not know what is going on in someone’s life. We might think that mom with five noisy kids is being disrespectful by not quieting her children; or that man who cut in the grocery check out area is being rude, but we don’t know anything about those people – who they are or what they’re going through. Are you willing to help comfort strangers in the face of trials? Even though we don’t, God knows what a difference we can make. Gestures as small as smiling and saying hello to a stranger can mean the world to someone.

This goes for family and friends, too! Seeing the same people every day can somewhat make us blind to when they are hurting. Spending quality time is crucial to any relationship. Go out to the park and take a walk with a family member or friend, and ask what they’re thinking about. Visit a local café and just talk – about anything! Sometimes talking about random things (i.e. a bird that just flew by; an interesting photo you saw the other day) can mean more to someone than talking about what is bothering them. Some people don’t like opening up, and pushing them to can cause more stress than help. But if you spend a little bit of quality time frequently, it shows the other person that you care.

I recently read an article (Link Here) that spoke to me. It said:

Ministry is:

Listening when you’d rather fix the problem.

Searching for the joy when it’s easier to say “It’s not fair.”

Helping, when you feel like you’re the one that needs the help.

Telling God “Use me” when you’d rather ask to be rescued.

Encouraging, even when you don’t see God’s reasoning. 

Hugging when it feels awkward.

Saying “let’s pray right now” instead of “I’ll pray for you.”

Serving, when you doubt you have anything left to give.

Comforting, by being the flicker of light in others’ dark caverns.

All of these acts take courage – and I know you have it! Often, our thoughts about what others will think of us can cloud our vision of what is right. Whether you fear rejection of your help, or what the people around the situation will think, you need to remember: You are reaching out and being kind to someone, and God will appreciate your good works. And as far as the people around you go – if they aren’t willing to help whoever is in need, we need not fear their judgement. 

Thank you for reading, I hope this helps refresh your courage to help others! 🙂

Be the light in dark places!

 

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

Tender Hearted

God made me tender hearted.

He made me so that I notice the smallest social interactions – a facial expression, shift in body language, or a small glance. I can overthink things often, and can sometimes be extremely sensitive. But that’s ok, because that is how I am made – and I’m made in God’s image!

“There is something special in being fragile, and it has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength. Being sensitive is a gift… and I shouldn’t be ashamed of it.” – unknown

It took me a while to remember that God made me “fragile” for a reason, even if I don’t know it yet. I am quiet, and lots of people take that as being insecure or weak. But I’m not. I know just who I am in Christ – a new creation! (2 Corinthians 5:17) The world is tough, and values perfection, which is something none of us can achieve. Society tells you to “Be yourself – but not like that,” creating a desire to do things on your own and an aversion to asking for help. Respect, manners, and caring for others are dying practices. But when we extend ourselves to others and reach out to comfort them, we are creating a bond of trust and shining the light of Jesus.

“There’s bravery in being soft.” – unknown

Are you willing to be soft? Are you willing to be sensitive? Are you willing to be the person who jumps up to hold the door for a complete stranger who needs a hand? To help pick up books a student drops, or console a stranger in tears? Because we need more comforters in this harsh world. We need more givers. We need more people who are willing to reach out and be like Jesus to the brokenhearted. ❤

 

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

The Fight

Even though it’s sometimes hard to see, we are all fighting for God: you and me.

Every day we can talk to our LORD: a great privilege He helped us afford.

With our Father above anything can be done, and when we speak with Him the battle can be won.

To others our battles of everyday may seem small, but the importance of them God knows in us all.

For He is great, and His grace is strong – He makes it clear that with Him we belong.

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

You Are Valued

Hey There!

I wrote this post to whoever might need it as a reminder of your value. You are so loved! God has made you unique and for a specific purpose – no one else is like you. Be proud of who you are in Christ!

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7

“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
1 Peter 3:4

“By the grace of God, I am what I am.” 1 Corinthians 25:10

I hope this comforts those who need it.❤

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life

Breathe By Grace

“Oh God, we breathe in your Grace and exhale.” – Exhale by Plumb

What does it mean to allow yourself grace? It means to forgive yourself for your mistakes and give some slack. What does God’s grace do for us? His Divine Grace allows us to take our mistakes to Him, be forgiven, and let them go. God doesn’t keep a record of our wrongs (Psalm 130:3), so why should we? 

God created us (Genesis 1:27) and died for us (1 Peter 2:24). His death on the cross granted us grace. Without God’s grace, we would not exist let alone be able to breathe! Therefore, we literally breathe by grace and our hearts beat by grace.

Consider some lyrics from Symphony by Josh Wilson:

“. . . the sound of a heartbeat, like the drumbeat to a song. . . now every breath we breathe is a melody in the love song to the God who made every soul. . .

We exist because of the God who made every soul. He gave us grace – which not only saved our lives but granted us life – so we should share that with others. Give everyone some grace: family, friends, acquaintances, strangers – you don’t know what’s going on in someone’s life, or their head. Maybe your grace to them is what gets them through the day!

So give some grace & share a smile. Take a deep breath. Remember where your grace comes from: and exhale. ❤

 

Chick & Co.

Living the Sweet Life