Written by Lauren V. Macaraeg #LaurenMacDoodles
Sometimes, God allows us to temporarily lose blessings so we can appreciate old blessings and accept new ones. 🌳🌞❤️🌊🐈😻🍽️ I’ve experienced this in both small and big ways.
An example of one small way: I’ve often prayed “Thank You, Lord, for this food” but I’ve rarely prayed “Thank You, Lord, for this water” until now. 🙏😂💦 It was only after the recent water shortage crisis in Metro Manila that I learned to doubly appreciate the importance of the availability of water, something that seems so basic and yet is so crucial to our survival. Kaya feeling ko nasa paraiso ako pag may araw na di nawalan ng tubig lol. 😅💧🎉
An example of a big way: When I was a kid and teenager, I used to take my family and friends for granted. It was only after I lived abroad for a few years that I learned to be thankful for my family. It was only after I was separated from my family in the Philippines for a while, who were there for me while I was growing up as a child, and after I spent time with family in the US, who were there for me during a challenging but interesting period of growth as an adult, that I learned to appreciate my family, both in the Philippines, the US and Australia, and to grow closer to them. 💖
An example of small and big ways combined: It was only after a combination of physical, mental and financial challenges that ultimately led me to fall in love with Zumba and dancing… even if I have two left feet haha. 😂 My discovery of dance might seem like a small thing but it’s a big deal for me because it helped me to heal and to recover my joy in different ways. 💃
I am writing about these thoughts, not just to encourage others, but also to remind myself of the reality of God’s love and wisdom in the ups and downs of life. To be honest, I’ve been feeling sad sometimes when I think of all the changes in life that the past several years have brought about in our family and friend circles. I sometimes feel nostalgic for the “good old days” of the past decade, which felt like my second shot at childhood because of renewed connections and bondings with my relatives and friends. It was like I became the child I never was. Minsan tinatanong ko si Lord kung bakit kailangan pang magbago ang mga bagay eh kuntento na ako how things used to be. I’ve felt happy and contented for so many years with what felt like a full, vibrant life full of family love, friendship and laughter. Kahit na di maintindihan ng iba kung bakit ako masaya kahit single ako, masaya pa rin ako eh. Yet God is reminding me that He has a purpose for taking away some of the blessings I’ve been used to, even if I don’t understand exactly what His purpose may be at this point. I just have to trust that He has my best interests at heart, in the same way that He always has in the past.
How about you? Are there blessings that God has taken away from you recently? I don’t know what you’re going through right now, but I know that the Lord cares for you and that He has your best interests at heart too. Even when we don’t always feel it, He loves us. So let’s do our best to hang in there even when it hurts.
Perhaps by allowing us to lose some blessings temporarily, God is preparing us to appreciate these blessings when He finally returns them to us. Or perhaps by taking away old blessings, God is preparing us to be open to receiving new blessings in His perfect time. I recently read Psalm 22:26, which says “The poor will eat and be satisfied.” When I read this verse, I was reminded that the poor man ate and became satisfied precisely because he was poor and hungry. If he was rich and full, he wouldn’t feel hunger in the first place and he wouldn’t be excited to eat anymore. Kung busog na si kuya, wala nang space ang tiyan niya! As it was, the man in the psalm was poor. Because he was poor, he didn’t have money to buy food. Because he didn’t have food, he was hungry. So when the food finally came, he was in a position to enjoy the feast and so he was satisfied. Ang gutom ay game lumafang! 🤣🍽️😊
Whether we are now missing old blessings or enjoying new ones, one blessing God will never take away from us is the best blessing of all: His love. 💖
– Meowhugs from Lauren, Mama Uni, Cutie the Cat & Cute-ings 🤗❤️😻🐈💃
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“The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!” (Psalm 22:26)
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca
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#Live4Infinity #LifeProject #Thoughts by #LaurenVMacaraeg #LaurenMacDoodles 🌟 : “OLD BLESSINGS & NEW BLESSINGS IN GOD’S LOVE” (Photo from February 19, 2019). Written on 03.31.2019. 🌳🌞❤️🌊🐈😻🍽️
#Blessings #OldBlessings #NewBlessings #GodsLove #GodsTime #Love #Faith #Trust #Prayer #Time #PraiseBook #Talikogenic
#ProjectHEAL: #MyFavoriteThings #Love #Blessings #Family #Friends #Cats #Kittens #Outdoors #Fitness #HappyAwkwardDance #Zumba #Pink
#ProjectTIME: #Family #Friends #MeTime #SelfDate #ADateWithMyself #LaurenAndMamu #MamaUniAndMe #MamaAndMe #CutieTheCat #Cutie #Cuteings #Love #LoveIsSpelledTIME #Immanuel #GodWithUs 🐈🐱😻❤️👸👧💃
To Follow Later On When I Get Better: #ProjectPICMIRACLE #ProjectTHANKYOU #ProjectHELLO
#MentalHealthAwareness #Healing #Recovery #MentalHealth
#LaurenMacScribbles #LaurenMacKulit #KidsAtHeart #AmazingGrace
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Read more about my Live4Infinity Life Project at my official accounts.💻📱🌞❤️😻🎵✏️
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