Things to praise

If your default is worry about tomorrow, perhaps you might consider gratitude in the present moment.

If your default is bottled impatience or spilling anger, perhaps you might consider grace soaked into a body, prayer by prayer.

If your default is self-doubt, like a sky filled with wisps of cirrus clouds you can’t get your hands on, perhaps you might consider faith and enough, solid like ground under your feet.

If your default is to see the worst, perhaps you might consider the best.

This weekend, may you know gratitude, grace, faith and what is lovely.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

Philippians 4:8-9 (The Message)

11 Comments

lijiun on July 7, 2012 at 8:39 am

Hi! Beautiful flowers!Thanks! Cheers!

Ashley Larkin on July 8, 2012 at 5:54 pm

Thanks, Lijun. :)
Reply

spree on July 7, 2012 at 9:05 am

Your words and sweet unfolding images have made filling the mind with good an easy thing to choose this morning. Thank you Ashley for such a Lovely reminder. xo

Ashley Larkin on July 8, 2012 at 5:55 pm

Thank you, Mama. I love how the reminders are everywhere. :)
Reply

Just A Smidgen on July 7, 2012 at 2:39 pm

I loved this post today.. The combination of your beautiful words and photography gives me such an uplifting sense of peace! Xoxo

Ashley Larkin on July 8, 2012 at 5:55 pm

I’m so glad for that. Peace in abundance to you, Smidge. xoxo
Reply

pete clemente on July 7, 2012 at 4:11 pm

I am thankful and grateful.

Ashley Larkin on July 11, 2012 at 11:16 pm

Me too, Papa.
Reply

Deb schneider on July 9, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Reading this and seeing your photographs gives me a deeper gratitude for our hydrangeas in beautiful bloom.

Ashley Larkin on July 11, 2012 at 11:15 pm

I’m glad, Deb. I so love hydrangeas. What color are yours?
Reply
- Deb schneider on July 24, 2012 at 9:02 pm
  
  Purple, deep pink, and sky blue :)
  Reply

lijiun on July 7, 2012 at 8:39 am

Hi! Beautiful flowers!Thanks! Cheers!
- Ashley Larkin on July 8, 2012 at 5:54 pm
  
  Thanks, Lijun. :)
spree on July 7, 2012 at 9:05 am

Your words and sweet unfolding images have made filling the mind with good an easy thing to choose this morning. Thank you Ashley for such a Lovely reminder. xo
- Ashley Larkin on July 8, 2012 at 5:55 pm
  
  Thank you, Mama. I love how the reminders are everywhere. :)
Just A Smidgen on July 7, 2012 at 2:39 pm

I loved this post today.. The combination of your beautiful words and photography gives me such an uplifting sense of peace! Xoxo
- Ashley Larkin on July 8, 2012 at 5:55 pm
  
  I’m so glad for that. Peace in abundance to you, Smidge. xoxo
pete clemente on July 7, 2012 at 4:11 pm

I am thankful and grateful.
- Ashley Larkin on July 11, 2012 at 11:16 pm
  
  Me too, Papa.
Deb schneider on July 9, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Reading this and seeing your photographs gives me a deeper gratitude for our hydrangeas in beautiful bloom.
- Ashley Larkin on July 11, 2012 at 11:15 pm
  
  I’m glad, Deb. I so love hydrangeas. What color are yours?
  - Deb schneider on July 24, 2012 at 9:02 pm
    
    Purple, deep pink, and sky blue :)