Women’s Devotion: Peace and Gratitude
Peace and Gratitude
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“It’s not perfect, but it is still beautiful.”
A couple of weeks ago I was enjoying that peace and quiet moment in our house only achieved after the kids finally agree to close their eyes and settle into their beds for the night. My husband and I usually default to turning the TV to HGTV, and we enjoy watching people search for new houses or travel the world picking out vacation homes, as it is a fun glimpse of places we may wish to travel to someday. We also like watching older homes get renovated and rediscovered, and often find ourselves watching re-runs of those shows – even though we already know exactly how the story ends, remembering the custom-made cabinet colors and special artwork selected for the new family room. It was another night of watching the same story but this time one phrase particularly jumped out of the TV and grabbed my attention, even more than when I saw the same show for the first time.
A woman truly loved seeing old things brought back to life – she didn’t take the easy way out and see things initially as trash or something needing to be replaced. She immediately saw the good, saw the potential, and truly thought it was beautiful. Not only did the story end with her excitement of a reupholstered chair, but she also saw the scrapes and scratches left behind in the refinished original wood floor that she appreciated told many stories. “It may not be perfect, but it is still so beautiful,” she said. She also instantly connected this idea not only to objects, but also to people.
Watching this story play out again really hit me that evening. It felt like the reminder I needed to stop chasing the unattainable goal of perfectionism, which can be applied to so many areas of my life. It was like I could feel the gratitude pouring out of her and it inspired me to change my mindset. Instead of instantly seeking out flaws, I wondered what might happen if I remember, “it’s not perfect, but it is still beautiful.” This has stuck with me the past couple of weeks and I’ve felt more peace and gratitude. What a gift.
Dear Lord, Thank you for your presence in our daily lives. Please continue to send us messages and reminders to practice gratitude and remember that everything you’ve made truly is beautiful and perfect. Amen.
Kristin Blomendahl, a member of the Sheridan Women’s Ministry Team, lives in Lincoln with her husband Ben, son Max (6 years old), and daughter Shelby (3 years old). Kristin and Ben were both raised on farms in Northeast Nebraska, attended UNL, were married at Sheridan, and then lived in California and Maryland before moving back home to “The Good Life” to raise their family. Kristin’s educational background is in Nutrition and Public Health and she is currently a stay-at-home mom.