I often put too much emphasis on the externals. What is happening around me. What I look like. How heavy I am. The things I’ve done wrong in my life and how I can never redeem that time.

I struggle with depression from time to time. Thankfully, it’s not bad enough to have to take medication any more, but I get the blues too often. When I find myself in that place, the dark and negative thoughts take captive in my mind and the emphasis is placed on what’s not going right, what I don’t have, what I don’t feel like doing.

I want to live life full, overflowing to the brim, the way God intended. In order to stay in that place, what I focus on or what I place emphasis on has to change. Even on those days when I am not feeling my best emotionally I can make a decision to find something positive to dwell on — I am healthy, my children love and serve the Lord, I have a job that I love, we have everything we need.

Even on those days when I am not feeling my best emotionally I can make a decision to find something positive to dwell on

Today I am making a decision to focus on the good in my life. Perhaps I will begin counting the gifts God has given to me again here in this space. It was always a great way to put emphasis on all that I have to be thankful for.