You’ve likely heard it said that we can’t truly appreciate someone until they’re gone.
Well, I can appreciate where that’s coming from, and I do think there’s some truth to not fully being able to recognize all of the things we appreciate about that person until we realize the void of them missing…
BUT, I do think we can be a lot more intentional to appreciate people while we have them!
That said, one of the things I’ve realized great power in is retroactive joy!
It’s a similar concept, of not being able to see the good while we’re in it – especially, I’ve found, if what we’re in doesn’t seem good at the time.
But I read a quote the other day by George Müller, which struck me as profound and beautiful: “God delights to increase the faith of his children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hands as a means. Trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.”
So, whatever you’re facing today, I hope that FAITH arises!!
And while there’s great blessing in retroactive joy, joy in the very present is a strength in and of itself!
JOY to you today (be it about today, yesterday, or tomorrow)!!
