We Get a Trip to See Jack!

Good morning,

Our family just got back from visiting our youngest son, Jack. He is in Madrid for the fall semester of college. With Instagram, I felt like we could share with family and friends the highlights of our trip. Of course, we posted the best picture or collage of the day or evening, but without being with us all people could see is what we presented. The trip had so many, many more moments and feelings and scenery that you just have to experience to really understand what we all took away. The main things we could control… Some things we just hoped for the best or chose the best attitude to move forward, like a new passport at the 11^th hour which delayed departure a day and a half, rainy day for sightseeing on foot, and tickets that needed to be reprinted. But mostly, the trip was a family grateful to be all together on a wonderful adventure with people in a different culture than ours. It was fun taking in the most beautiful holiday we will always remember as a gift, very special and a small window of time to experience Jack’s overseas adventure with him. We all told Steve how thankful we were he cared enough to give all of us such a great trip.

Now, if we wanted to, we could have made that trip miserable with complaining about every little inconvenience or personal slight… wouldn’t you think we were complete jerks if we had the opportunity to do what we did and instead of savoring and laughing and speaking words of love, fun, and amazement, we only griped about the journey and if it wasn’t perfect every second, we were angry? Wouldn’t Steve have been so mad that he spent money and planning time and an ungrateful family was all he got? In our human condition it would be pretty hard to ever want to do something good for a family like that again.

Well, praise God that Jesus is made different. He has planned a trip for each of us. We get a very short stay here on earth and Jesus has planned, prepared, laid out, and showered each of us with a different trip. He just asks that we believe in Him to guide us, protect us, provide for us and teach us everything that is worth knowing. He says to enjoy the journey no matter the troubles!! We are not to have our circumstance dictate our happiness! We are to look to Him, have a grateful attitude, forgive people quickly for our own benefit, and love, love, love at every turn. He says not to complain and grumble and hold grudges. Imagine how much work and time and sacrifice Jesus provided for us and all some people do is push Him away, never say thank you, always want more.

Good news is, we can always refresh our attitude. We can always become aware of what is holding back our happiness. We can choose to be thankful, forgiving, and humble, because if we do those things, we have anger lifted off us. We can choose to have the eyes of our heart flooded with light. Jesus never holds a grudge. He always has open arms and He loved us first.

Love you, Teri