The Nutcrackers

I remember it like it happened yesterday.

A few years ago, our family was in a Target store in Aiken, South Carolina.  Our son asked if we could leave.  He was not too interested in shopping.  I told him to wait for just a few more moments and then we would leave.  He just shrugged his shoulders, mumbled "Ok", and quietly disappeared around the corner.  I waited for a few seconds and then went to see what he was doing.

There sat my boy in the middle of the store's floor.  He had taken the Christmas nutcrackers off the shelves and started playing with them.  I was about to say something to him about it, but I just stood there, smiled, and watched him have his fun.  The kid's imagination was rolling as he played happily right there on the floor.

Emerson had simply chosen to make the best of where he was.  He maximized the moment.  And he decided to be happy right there in his current surroundings.

What a neat reminder for all of us, young and old alike.

Maybe you don't live where you want to live.

Maybe you don't work where you want to work.

Maybe your life is not going exactly how you want it to go.

If that's you, here's a little nugget of advice from someone who cares:  The best thing you can do is whisper a prayer, be thankful for the good things that are going your way, and just make the best of where you are.  Appreciate the now and decide to be happy.

Sure, it's great to set goals and aim for a different kind of life.  It's fine to work towards the job you want and the home you want.  There's nothing wrong with wanting those things.  But while you're working towards them, choose to enjoy the right here and the right now too.  Choose to smile and appreciate the positives of your life in this very moment.

My boy decided to enjoy the nutcrackers that were right in front of him.  Let's follow his example and daily enjoy the blessings that are right in front of us as well.  That will keep a smile on our faces and a spring in our steps.

May God help us to be content and thankful for the His wonderful gifts which surround us right now, and may He enable us to walk in His joy each day, regardless of our circumstances.