Life is Like . . .
“Some say life is a bowl of cherries,” I heard the comedian say. “No! It’s the pits!”
Forrest Gump said life is like a box of chocolates.
Sometimes all we can see in life are those pits. We might bite into a hard but gooey candy that sticks to our teeth, and we can’t seem to get rid of it. Or we might get a smooth, creamy center that melts in the mouth. (I know, there are many of you who actually like the sticky stuff but bear with me.)
Multiple studies have shown that laughter and smiling help lower blood sugar and blood pressure, reduce stress, boost immune systems, and release natural painkillers and serotonin.
Sounds good, right? But how do we get there?
Tim Tebow may have some insight for us: I’m just thankful for everything, all the blessings in my life, trying to stay that way. I think that’s the best way to start your day and finish your day. It keeps everything in perspective.
Thankfulness and gratitude seem to be the keys to laughter, smiling, good health, and joy.
Long before all the modern pundits piped in, Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Gratitude, no matter our circumstances. Even if life seems like a bowl of cherry pits, there are still cherries to be grateful for. We can be grateful for all the chocolate, despite not knowing what we’re going to get or biting into one that we don’t like.
Rejoice! Why? Because we are loved and we’ve been saved by grace and that not of ourselves, but by the willing sacrifice of the Son.
There is no greater love than this, no greater reason to be grateful. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4 CSB)
Susan K. Beatty is in her third career—from journalist to homeschool tech writer to her life-long dream of becoming a novelist. She is proof you can start a new writing career late in life. Susan released her first published fiction in September 2019, and now an awarding winner author, this is her third novel, with several novelettes and short stories to her credit. She is passionate about finding courage through faith and grit. Susan lives with her husband of forty-nine years in Southern California. Add children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to the mix and she has little time for her favorite hobbies of reading, watching classic movies, British crime dramas, and traveling.
The following Susan K. Beatty books are published by Celebrate Lit Publishing:
Courage for your Everyday Life
Every year, a handmade sign graces the center of our Thanksgiving buffet. If you look closely at the photo, you’ll see gloppy, whited-out letters after the words “Happy Thanks.”
Stacy T. Simmons wrote uplifting fiction to delight the reader’s romantic sensibilities. She began writing at the age of fifty and was thrilled when her first Briar Creek Love novel, A Promise for Faith, was published in January 2022. Stacy passed away later that year, leaving her second complete novel, A Journey for Hope, and a partial manuscript for A Season for Grace.
Cathe writes books with creative plots and engaging characters of all ages, to glorify God and entertain and bless readers. Her heartwarming stories will make you laugh and make you cry – and then make you laugh again.