by Janet

Give Thanks…

NO MATTER WHAT

Hmmm… well isn’t that a wee bit grandiloquent?!

Between the Word of the Day, grandiloquent, and the weekend writing prompt, peristeronic, I’m beginning to think that I need to keep a thesaurus and a dictionary at my desk! 

Grandiloquent: Language or behavior is very formal, literary, or exaggerated, and is used by people when they want to seem important. Fancy or pretentious. 

Honestly, I don’t think that being cheerful, praying, and giving thanks no matter what is grandiloquent at all. It’s biblical.

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18 (MSG)

I thought that this might be the perfect opportunity to submit my entry to Out of the Ashes, for the challenge: New Directions—a prompt that was started by yours truly—ME.

It’s terribly awkward, spreading myself so thin like that… but these are the COVID days, and I think that most of us can agree… anything goes.

I have a zillion things that I could write about new directions—starting over or changing the course of your life—but I think that the perfect starting point is gratitude; being grateful for every single thing in your life: A roof over your head, food on the table, or even the basics like air, soap and water.

I think that when we learn to be grateful for “life itself”—when we’re cheerful, prayerful, and thankful—it clears paths and opens doors. An ungrateful mind is muddled with negativity and complaints, and it creates a toxic fog.

The more we focus on despair and hopelessness, the cloudier it gets. After awhile, we can’t even see ahead of us let alone try to change our course! Mindsets are crucial, and I like to think that this biblical instruction is offering us truth and wisdom about the value and benefit of having a healthy and positive mindset.

So, at the risk of sounding grandiloquent, “be cheerful, pray, and give thanks… no matter what!”

Written for Word of the Day Challenge: Grandiloquent, and Out of the Ashes prompt: New Directions.

The featured image is another friend portrait that I did. The leaves were added as a finishing touch, and I couldn’t help but think that a woman celebrating the falling leaves (which my friend would inevitably do) was the perfect representation of gratitude.

The “oil paint” tool on my old PC never worked before—I think because of my graphic card—and I realized yesterday, while working on my “moon art,” that it’s available to me now, on my new laptop. Hence the new oil paint effect.

And I couldn’t be more grateful!

That’s about all for now. Peace & love to you all…

20 Comments

  1. I love how you’re tying it all together! And the message is so relevant during these times. Having a mindset shift toward gratitude makes all the difference in your direction. Well done! 💕

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Collette! I agree it’s especially relevant right now, and its something to be mindful of. It’s too easy to shift in the wrong direction! 😘❤

      Liked by 1 person

  2. The challenge to have a humble faith and gratitude while things are most difficult-Yes Please and thank you for everything! There is always a kernel of Love and a mysterious piece to the puzzle which is not evident to my earthly sight. All is as it should be.

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  3. I love this post so much! Learning new words, a beautiful picture, and a heart full of gratitude are the perfect ingredients for joy! Thank you for sharing joy and love with us. 💚🤗

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Gratitude is so important during these Covid days. Some people have nothing and they are still grateful to be alive. Now that is my idea of gratitude. Thankful, despite all the bad things happening to people and people helping people which is a branch off this Covid Virus that is growing despite everything happening. Great post.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Yes it is time to return to the world of living. I used NaNoWriMo as an excuse not to blog anymore. Time to return to the land of the living and focus on more than just how terrible things are right now. There is more to life than that. I want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

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    3. Sounds good. I’m actually learning to slow down and take my time on projects, and to stop pushing myself but have fun with it all, and it’s been working out really well. Life’s too short. Focus on the good, that’s a good way to be.

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    4. I am fully immersed in my new novel. I haven’t felt this excitement for writing in a very long time. It is a major undertaking, but it is fun and distracting. I am trying to grow my WordPress and Youtube presence.

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    6. My plan is to eventually post it on my blog. Another option is wattpad.com. I can’t publish in the traditional sense at this point due to income limitations so I have to settle for posting it for others to read on my blog or WattPad. I have a link at the top for the 6 chapters of my one memoir I started. It is posted on another blog, but the link should take you to it if you are interested. I need to finish that and be done with that section once and for all, but right now all I can see is my thriller.

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    7. Alright, I’ll check it out- probably tomorrow. Sounds like you’re doing the same as me, a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, all over the place. If I have trouble finding it I’ll shoot you a message or email.

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    8. Yes a little of everything. Who would have thought I would have a youtube channel and host live streams on my channel for others to come and write timed sprints? Who would have thought I would find it possible to not only write a thriller, but be excited about it? (It’s not near done yet, but still I am excited about it and still working on it.) Talking to a camera as if it is real live people in front of you. So awkward, but I am learning. And I am keeping myself out of the doldrums right now.

      Liked by 1 person

    9. That’s so great! I’m happy for you. Especially in these time we’re having right now, if you have things to keep you occupied, content, and excited, you’re doing great and actually better than some. The channel sounds awesome too!

      Liked by 1 person

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