Candyce Carden

Harvesting a Life of Abundance

  • Candyce Carden
  • Home
  • Meet Candyce Carden
  • Candyce’s Blog
    • Devotions
    • The Write Stuff
  • Some of My Recent Work
  • Contact Candyce

Ordinary Gratitude

Aware of my practice of choosing a word to focus on for the new year, a friend asked me what my word for 2021 was. Still reeling from 2020, and especially since Covid-19 had invaded my family and changed our Christmas plans, I hadn’t given it much thought.

Flattered that an inquiring mind wanted to know, I settled in for some reflection. When God guided me to the word gratitude, I resisted. “I’m already grateful,” I argued. “Haven’t I kept a gratitude journal for years?”

But when my family was able to gather for a belated Christmas celebration, how sweet it was! As much as I’d enjoyed holidays in the past, nothing compared to this one. It sparkled with love.

I used to take such moments for granted. Family gatherings had been a frequent occurrence, after all. I hadn’t been as grateful as I could have been.

My Word for 2021

Still, I wasn’t yet sold on the word God had instilled in my mind. But when I looked back at my gratitude journal, I found my objects of gratitude tended to be:

  • Extraordinary events
  • An occasional spiritual blessing
  • A new ________ (fill in the blank)
  • A big University of Georgia football win
  • A long-awaited answer to prayer
  • Broad terms such as family, friends, health

God was right, of course. My word for 2021 is gratitude, but with a different slant.

If I’ve learned anything from this pandemic, it’s to appreciate the ordinary. Time and again, what used to be everyday moments became extraordinary.

At that belated family gathering, once an ordinary event, my heart oozed with gratitude and joy. And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.

I should never take God’s gifts for granted. He’s right there, in the ordinary, as much as He’s in the spectacular. I believe that’s what God was teaching me: Be grateful in all situations and “seek His face always” (Psalm 105:4 NIV).

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17 ESV).

Normalcy. Routine. The same old, same old. I welcome it. I resolve to appreciate the everyday moments of life like never before. God is present in the ordinary, and He never changes. And that is extraordinary.

Shouldn’t I be on-my-knees grateful?

We’ll never fully understand the events of 2020, but we can rest assured that God was in in —from beginning to end. And He will make “everything beautiful in its time” Ecclesiastes 3: 11a.

What about you? What did God teach you in 2020, or what new way of thinking will you take into 2021?

If I've learned anything from this pandemic, it's to appreciate the ordinary. Time and again, what used to be everyday moments became extraordinary. Click To Tweet

Sharing is caring!

0shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
«

Devotions 8

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. LuAnn K. Edwards says

    January 12, 2021 at 7:18 pm

    Enjoyed your post! Loved “ I resolve to appreciate the everyday moments of life like never before. God is present in the ordinary, and He never changes. And that is extraordinary.” Everyday moments are special indeed!

    Reply
    • Candyce Carden says

      January 13, 2021 at 2:14 pm

      Everyday moments are special when we see Jesus in the middle of them. That’s why I try to “seek His face always.”

      Thanks for your feedback.

      Reply
  2. Barb Fox says

    January 5, 2021 at 5:55 pm

    Candyce, I love this perspective! I have teared up at the oddest moments. My daughter’s cat totally irritated by my son’s dog…but it made me so grateful because it meant that my kids wanted to hang out with us all day instead of going home. Four gifts that didn’t make it in time for Christmas…but it made me thankful because it didn’t quelch any of the joy…the kids really prefer our presence over our presents. My kitchen a total disaster…but it made me thank God over and over that I had loved ones around who were able to contribute to the mess.

    Reply
  3. Katherine Pasour says

    January 4, 2021 at 2:49 pm

    Such a timely message, Candyce. We’ve struggled through 2020 and many have suffered great losses. It’s hard to be thankful when we’re in pain. But you are right–there is much to be thankful for–and I agree that, this year, the ordinary occurrences have become extraordinary blessings. Thank you for putting things into proper perspective. Wishing you a blessed 2021, my friend.

    Reply
    • Candyce C says

      January 5, 2021 at 11:21 am

      I think our faith grows stronger through tough times It may not seem like it when we’re in the middle of them, but history has shown me that God uses the hard stuff of life to draw me closer to Him.

      Wishing you a blessed and prosperous new year, Katherine!

      Reply
  4. Katherine Pasour says

    January 4, 2021 at 2:48 pm

    Such a timely message, Candyce. We’ve struggled through 2020 and many have suffered great losses. It’s hard to be thankful when we’re in pain. But you are right–there is much to be thankful for–and I agree that, this year, the ordinary have become extraordinary blessings. Thank you for putting things into proper perspective. Wishing you a blessed 2021, my friend.

    Reply
  5. J.D. Wininger says

    January 4, 2021 at 9:23 am

    We sure can’t forget God’s presence in our “every day.” They’re what makes our ordinary so extraordinary. 🙂 God’s blessings Ms. Candyce; and thank you for this joyous reminder to be grateful for all that God blesses our lives with; even the hard things.

    Reply
    • Candyce Carden says

      January 5, 2021 at 11:38 am

      Thank you JD. I want to hold on to this lesson and keep God front and center throughout each day, every day.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

search

Subscribe for Email Updates

Sign up here to get regular email updates when I post a new article!

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Ordinary Gratitude
  • Hindsight is 20/20
  • Tuning In To God’s Frequency
  • Becoming Like Little Children
  • When God Calls

Search

Follow me on Instagram

_showingup

Strikes me as humor, but there is truth here! God Strikes me as humor, but there is truth here! God tells us to “be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. #bible #scripture #scriptureoftheday #godstruth #prewriting #followfriday #writingtoinspire #faithinspired #christiansofinstagram #bloggersofinstagram #writersofinstagram #devotion #abundantliving #followerofjesus #faith #writing #amwritingnow #bloggers #jesus #candycecarden  #candycecardenwriter
God will use our stumbles to draw us close if we t God will use our stumbles to draw us close if we turn toward Him. #truth #scripture #hope #writersofinstagram #bloggersofinstagram candycecarden.com
#valentines #happyvalentinesday #love #greatestoft #valentines #happyvalentinesday #love #greatestoftheseislove #godislove #candycecarden #christianwritersofinstagram #bloggersofinstagram
What’s your favorite meal of the day? For me, it What’s your favorite meal of the day? For me, it’s the one I’m eating!#breakfast #destin #ourdailybread
What a powerful #scripture! I’m doing a Bible st What a powerful #scripture! I’m doing a Bible study called #JewelsOfHebrews by @stephanie Pavlantos. It is great! #biblestudy #faith #writersofinstagram
LET IT GO. “Forgetting what is behind and strain LET IT GO. “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal...” Phil 3:13-14. #letitgo #bibletruth #forgive #writersofinstagram #bloggersofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Candyce Carden

Copyright © 2021 · Darling Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in