God’s Gentle Reminder

In December 2025, I asked the Holy Spirit to search my heart and to show me what He wanted to change. I had lived most days since July with a sense of discouragement, pushing through each day, making unhelpful comments to others, and experiencing paralysis when making decisions with a sense of God’s leading.

The Spirit planted one word in my thoughts during the search inventory. THANKFUL! So, I decided one step to take was to intentionally express my thoughts to the Spirit in prayer as I had my quiet early-morning first cup of coffee. It seemed to help rewire my heart to face the day in a positive way.

Last week I went by a friend’s house to pick up some Church work papers, and she greeted me with a plate of her homemade banana bread. I knew it was wrapped in plastic on a paper plate, but I did not give it much attention beyond carrying it carefully into our kitchen.

But a couple of breakfasts later, I warmed up the last two slices and got my second cup of coffee. As I forked into the bread, I suddenly noticed the plate was left over from the Browns’ Thanksgiving meal. Here was God’s gentle reminder: “BE THANKFUL.”

God is a loving parent and knows how He designed me to live. I am better when I lift my head to Him and list some of His gracious, continuous supply for me. Days are better when we get a clear focus on seeing Him as the source of all that touches my life.

Share your questions or thoughts — and thanks to Christy Brown for the baked goods and for using up her dated paperware!