After 11 days on the road, we returned home to western Pennsylvania. All in all, the trip reminded me of how to thoroughly enjoy God and his gifts in every situation.
We spent more than 70 hours crammed into a small Nissan Frontier together. For kids who are 12, 8, and 4, that’s a lot of hours.
Nonetheless, the kids marveled at the majesty of the Tetons and watched Old Faithful erupt in a cloud of steam. They stood outside the site of their parents’ first date, The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, and they posed beneath Mount Rushmore.
We slept in a tent, bathed Aiden in a bowl in the middle of the wilderness, and snuggled into our sleeping bags wearing our hats and winter coats because it was that cold.
Full mornings were spent in the tent when it rained, and the nearest town was an hour away from our campsite.
We went swimming in hot springs and climbed mountains.
The kids sat on a giant jackalope and saw untamed moose, elk, bison, and mule deer for the first time.
As I reflect on it all now, I’m surprised that I mostly remember the good moments. The experience was a powerful reminder of how to enjoy God by focusing on his goodness.
Enjoy God by Focusing on the Good
Moments that felt like crises are hard to remember in hindsight. Carsick kids, little boys punching each other, sleepless nights in the tent, deflated air mattresses, and stormy afternoons pale in comparison to the good moments.
I’m trying to apply this same insight to life at home. I’m trying to remind myself to focus on the good in every moment, and it’s changing the direction of our summer.
We’ve settled in at home again, and I’ve caught up on laundry.
The virus we picked up in Jackson Hole has been passed around the entire family, and we are mostly recovered.
I keep coming back to the importance of focusing on the gifts woven into all of our moments, even the bickering moments and meltdown moments. Here are the ways I’m reminding myself to keep focusing on the good this summer. Perhaps these reminders will help you, too.
5 Ways to Enjoy God and Remain Grateful
1. Begin the day by naming three good moments from the previous day.
Every morning, I pull out my journal and name three gifts from the previous day. I write about meals on the deck, visits with friends, and evenings in the yard with the kids and the dogs.
Focusing on good moments at the beginning of the day prepares my mind to chase beauty and goodness all day long.
2. Enjoy God by stopping in the middle of the day to thank him for his gifts.
I’ve been pausing every afternoon to talk to God for a few minutes. I thank him for the gifts from the morning. I ask him what he wants me to know about the afternoon.
This conversation feels like a midday reset, and I need it daily.
3. Slow down to do something whimsical each day.
I’ve been reminding myself to read storybooks under the poplar tree, cook s’mores over campfires, and play Uno at the dining room table.
We just might have the best summer ever if we loosen up and go with the flow. If we blew up the rafts and went swimming in the creek more often. If we took time to pick wildflowers, collect stones from the creek bottom, and chase butterflies.
I’m convinced we would.
And we wouldn’t even have to drive across the country to do it.
4. Name your blessings out loud, with someone else, every day.
At our campsite in Wyoming, we gathered around the fire on chilly mornings, sipped hot cocoa, and named God’s gifts from the previous day. The kids thanked God for everything from averted rain showers to elk sightings.
This discipline in gratitude shifted the mood for the entire day.
5. Enjoy God by ending the day with gratitude.
Before falling asleep at night, I thank God for the gifts of the day. When my first and last thoughts are grateful thoughts, God does a work in my heart.
Why Focus on the Good?
Perhaps this is the secret to a life well-lived: Look for everything that’s good. Chase beauty. Enjoy God as you slow down and savor his gifts. They are everywhere. If only we would take the time to notice.
I don’t know when we will return to the Rockies as a family. Until we do, I’m grateful for the lessons learned along the journey.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Stacey Pardoe
Featured Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
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