Rejoice over Everything.

Rejoice over everything.

Exult. Exhilarate.
Be glad. Be delighted, elated, and bowled over with joy!
 

Frolic freely, hop, hope, dance on the dare, cheer,
champion the little ones, revel in the riotous light.

Invoke God without ceasing. Pray with passion.
Whatever you do, do not quench the Spirit.
 

Take care not to douse or dampen the bold blaze in your depths.
Jump into life. Hold fast to it.
 

Give thanks for everything.
For everything, even the most misshapen and misunderstood,
is the disguise of the divine.

Susan Virginia Hull

I heard this read at candle light carols last year and just happened upon it this week as I was going through my files.  I’ve been thinking about it all week as I’ve been trying to get into the Thanksgiving spirit.  I want more rejoicing in my life and less griping.  I want to let my blessings bowl me over rather than feel stuck in ruts and mires.  I want to hold fast to life.  I want more cheering, championing, reveling.  More Exulting.  More gratitude for all that is right and good and amazing about my life and less complaining about what’s not perfect.  I want less discontent and more contentment.  More peace.  More joy in what is.  For, as she says, everything is a gift.  When we can see it that way, when we can reframe life and see the divine in all the corners we can’t help but rejoice.

It’s so easy to let that bold blaze in my depths get trapped under all the clutter of complaints, discontent, worry, cynicism.  Time to dig my way out.  Jump into life.  Work for contentment.  Give thanks for everything. 

Don't you think Thanksgiving is such a great way to start off the Christmas season.  Rejoice!