This is something that happens when I am texting! My message app will understand my swipe of God and type good. It’s probably quite logical for this program. It obviously hasn’t learned or understood that I mean God when I swipe! Is this program erasing God? It’s not adapting after correcting it and choosing God! Thinking about it further, I realized that this could be a good message. The way to be aware that there is a God is to see the good. It also calls me to BE the good. If I want to make God present, or good present in the world, I need to BE the good or point it out. I then imagine all the people that would annoy. In choosing to live in peace and joy, I am sometimes seen as a Pollyanna, a person who has a bias to be positive. Like I have no problems or issues! I didn’t grow up in a perfect family or have an easy life. Instead, I had some tremendous obstacles. My faith helped me to see that I could find something to be grateful for at all times. Way before the mindfulness trend, my faith taught me to enjoy nature and find or create my own peace. What a gift!

In some therapy and mental health training, I learned not only new ways to breathe, I could learn to choose me. I choose who I am. I have always known that. In working with teens quite a few years ago, I talked about the concept of ‘think and choose’. I think and then I choose. What I think creates who I am and what I do. What can I think or carry with me today? What can I be aware of in order to choose an attitude of gratitude?

A recent book and newsletter from Franciscan Media has given me a renewed mindset. I appreciate these snippets and challenges for the day: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/. Click on newsletter under subscriptions to sign up for inspiration!

Today’s Pause+Pray, Pieces of a Puzzle was written by Carol Ann Morrow. Learn more here! Share some inspiration with a friend! We need each other.