Gratitude and the strength to let go.

Some days are hard. Some weeks, months, even years are hard.  When I'm in a rut, I remember the beauty that surrounds me EVERY DAY.  I practice gratitude for all that I have in life, especially during the difficult times.

I read the daily devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young every morning.  November 5th reads, "People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives.  So they pour their energy into trying to control those situations.  They feel happy when things are going well and sad or frustrated when things don't turn out as they'd hoped.  They rarely question this correlation between their circumstances and feelings.  Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation."