Tag: gratitude

Good Weather

~ Mel Eyeons ~ Leave a comment

A ‘Thought for the Day’ for Black Cat Radio – 20th May 2021

I don’t want to jinx anything, but I think good weather is finally arriving! It’s been a cold spring, which has led to me having loads of plants waiting for ages on my windowsill to go out in the garden. Like a lot of people, I really notice the effect of weather on my mood. When it’s dark outside I feel down and like I can’t be bothered to do anything, while as soon as the sun comes out I perk up. I hope the better weather lasts to the bank holiday, as on the last bank holiday I went to visit a friend I hadn’t seen for ages for a walk around with her puppy and we got rained on the whole time.

It’s amazing, really, how something as small as the sun coming out can make things seem easier or more bearable, even if just for a little bit. For me as a Christian such things are a sign of God being with us and loving us. It’s hard to feel blessed when there’s political trouble, the pandemic still isn’t over, and when faced with our own personal troubles. But the promise of the Bible is that even though we will still have difficulties God is right here in them with us. And God sends us things to make life easier – a sunny day, a kind word, a helping hand out of nowhere. The knack is to notice these things and enjoy them and be thankful for them. And even if you don’t believe in God, it’s always worth noticing and being glad about the good things that happen even on bad days.

 

Take care

Mel

Small Things

~ Mel Eyeons ~ Leave a comment

A ‘Thought for the Day’ for Black Cat Radio – April 2020

Coffee cravings

I don’t know if it’s the change in weather or the extra weeks that’ve been added on, but the lockdown has been feeling harder for me this week. We all have ups and downs in this, of course, so I know I’m not alone. What’s keeping me going right now is looking forward to going to a coffee shop again. I used to go pretty much every day as with working from home it was essential for making sure I saw people and didn’t start talking to the walls. I took it entirely for granted that I could do that but now it feels like some amazing dream. It’s funny, really, how we do take small joys for granted. Hugging a friend, having a pint in the pub, all those things we like to do that make us feel a bit happier. They don’t seem much until they’re taken away and then we begin to realise how much they brighten life up.

Notice the good

So, I’m looking forward to being able to do things like decide to go out for a coffee again. I also hope that one outcome of all this lockdown will be that I stop taking good things for granted. Christianity encourages us to notice and think about the good things around us, and to give thanks for them. This isn’t just to make God feel better but because when we have an attitude of looking out for the good and being grateful for it we tend to be happier and more fulfilled.

What can we do?

So, if you feel a bit down right now I’d like to invite you to join me in thinking about the small good things that are around now. Or you could remember the good things we used to do and will do again one day. Then, together we can practice being grateful for those things and start to feel a bit better.