Zoom In!

 When one zooms in on a computer screen, the picture becomes bigger and one is able to take a closer look at what they are viewing. Think about the time you were in Science class and you had to use a magnifying glass or a microscope. Both of these instruments gives us the ability to zoom in on an object. There are several reasons why one may zoom in closer. One reason is that the print or picture is too small and making it bigger helps see it better. A second reason one may zoom in is that one wants to look at the details more closely. Another reason may be to look at the picture or text from all different angles. Just like we want to zoom in on the computer screen or in the Science lab, we should want to zoom in on the picture of our every day lives. Each day, we can take a real good look and study it up close and personal. No day is perfect, but every day we have something to be thankful for 🙌. We should find things and people to be grateful for. We may have to stay zoomed in longer on some days than others, but it's there. Psalm 145:2 says, "Every day I will bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever." The writer of the Psalm, David, is referring to giving God the praise. The very fact that we are still alive and breathing is enough to give God praise for. As I go throughout my days, I do my best to look for what I'm grateful for and acknowledge that to God in prayer and aloud. It can be easy to look at what's going wrong first, but let's look at what's going right and what could have been worse. I know when I look back over my year, I can see the growth 🙏. I can see where I chose to try to acknowledge the good first. I can see where I zoom in to what's going right instead of always looking at the wrong and what didn't happen. I want to share with you ways that help me zoom in on the good. One way I do that is by keeping a thankful journal. At the end of each day, I write down at least 10 things or people I'm grateful for in that day. This causes me to be intentional and reflect back on the day. It causes me to zoom in on my day and what happened or didn't happen. Another way that I zoom in on the good is by keeping a gratitude gift box. I saw this idea online last year and decided I would try it. The individual online used a jar, but I just adapted  and used the gift box I already had. I love it 💜!! At the beginning of this year in January, I wrote down good things that happened each week on a piece of paper. At the end of each week, I fold the paper up and put it in the gift box. On Dec.31st, I will have 52 slips of paper that represent each week in 2022. On that day, I will open up each slip of paper from my gratitude box and read what I was grateful for over the course of this year. I can't wait until I read those slips of paper on Dec. 31st!! I will definitely do it again next year 💜!! Now when we zoom in, we do have to be mindful of what we see that needs improvement, but not dwell in it too long. If a situation or a response went wrong, let's ask ourselves what we can learn from it and how we can do better next time. Let's zoom in on our life so we don't miss any details and the good things going on in our lives. Let's zoom in on God's Word and what His Word says about what we should be grateful for 🙌. Let's zoom in on God's love and kindness and faithfulness to us. The same way He gives it to us, we should give it to others. Let's zoom in on the good and learn from the hard times. Throughout our day, let's remind ourselves of ways to be thankful. Psalm 103:2 says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Benefits are good things that are added on. Let's remember to zoom in and take a closer look at all we have to be grateful for. Let's not just do this on Thanksgiving, but 365 days a year! Giving thanks is always in season, so let's always remember to zoom in on the good💙. God bless you!