Enjoy!

Enjoy=to experience joy; to take pleasure in; to relish

The message in church this morning got the wheels turning in my mind. We are studying the book of Ecclesiastes, and truly there is much to ponder in that writing. The main focus was to enjoy life and all it's certainties and uncertainties, for that is what we have been given. All too often we take so much in our lives for granted, and we never know when those things could be taken from us. Whether it be a person or the ability to do something, we rely on those things without really grasping just how enjoyable they are to us.

Of course I am going to focus a little bit more on this thought. Having a heart for women and the thoughts that we have towards ourselves, my mind immediately was challenged by the fact that we women in general, do not enjoy our body. How many thoughts that fill your mind each day in regards to yourself, as Webster defines it, make you take pleasure in, and relish yourself.....as is? I am encouraged to remember all those little, yet truly monumental, things that I am able to do each day without even thinking about it. Like the saying goes, you don't know a good thing until it's gone! Take the time to run through a "normal" day and then note 10 things that you can take pleasure in, that your body does. It can be physical, mental, or emotional in nature. Here it goes...I'll do 10.

1. Ability to get out of bed and give my boys a morning hug when they are still drowsy.

2. Exercise....not all enjoy it, but I do, it helps clear my mind and relieve stress.

3. I can smell...coffee, fresh bread, cookies, garlic & onions sauteing, fresh air....yeah for spring=)

4. Laughter, oh how a good laugh can just brighten your spirits.

5. I can see....the sun, my kids, and I love to read.

6. To feel emotionally, while not always enjoyed, without my emotions well life would just be BLAH!

7. To just be a woman, with a husband to love and who loves me whether or not I think my physical body is good enough!

8. For the design of my body with extra fat to help keep me warm and my organs functioning and regulated.

9. For hands to help others, to hold, to hug, to cook, and yes, to even do the dishes=)

10. Most of all, for the ability to Love! Love God, others, and even myself!

Okay, so that wasn't that hard, now comes the hard part...to remember it! If we can just take these thoughts and go with it, how much more enjoyable each and every day would be. If instead of grumbling about yet another pot to wash, take pleasure in that time knowing that if we had no hands to do it with, we would long for the ability to do this simple task. Or instead of beating ourselves up over the size, or lack of size, of our body parts, we reminded ourselves that without them, we would not be able to do a whole assortment of things. You get the idea. When you see others enjoying life, it just makes you want to be around them and have that spunk for yourself. So lets challenge ourselves to enjoy all that we are, all that we have, with the body that God has blessed us with, and be contagious with it. Everyone loves a joyful spirit.

"Start using what you have to be a blessing, and your well will never run dry."

Unknown