Love Where You Are

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

“As soon as I can, I’m moving. I will never live in Central Minnesota when I grow up!”

I often chuckle ruefully at that angrily huffed declaration made by twelve-year-old me over something I can no longer recall.

In a funny twist, not only did I never leave Central Minnesota, but I’m the only one left here from my immediate family. And yet—despite my preteen angst—I cannot imagine God having a more perfect place for my family to be rooted at this point in our lives. We have been blessed beyond measure with deeply connected friendships, opportunities to contribute meaningfully to our community, and the intersection of our lives with people from across the globe.

Does that mean I never long to live near the ocean, in the mountains, or tucked into the rolling hills of western Ireland? Of course not! I love to daydream about what it might be like to live in the heart of Manhattan or a hill town in Northern Italy. There are so many amazing places to live; I don’t have enough life left for all the options that intrigue me.

But I’ve learned to appreciate where God has planted me—whether for my entire life or only this season. Being obedient to God in where he sends us is always more important than the location itself, even when winter temps occasionally dip into the nostrils-freeze-shut-the-moment-you-step-outside range. And I can find reasons to be grateful, even with frozen facial features: namely, no scorpions hiding in my shoes or alligators in my lakes!

More important than the general absence of venomous critters and snappy snappers are the people God sends across my particular path. I want to be where God can best use me, which means finding and embracing with thankfulness the best parts of the place I’m planted for as long as he plants me there.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Set a timer for thirty seconds and list what you appreciate about where you live. For extra fun, play tourist and spend a day doing the local sightseeing things you’ve never gotten around to doing.