Romans 12:12

"Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer."

I just needed a reminder of that verse...it sounds so simple.

If you asked me how my day was yesterday...at about 12:20 last night when I was desperately trying to get to bed before I got more upset, I would have told you it was awful. A testament to Evil's un-originality, when I get really tired, everything I didn't accomplish during the day, everything I'm unsure about, everything that I want to get done in the next 5 years (that I all of a sudden think I need to worry about now) comes rushing at me. Stress really sucks. Yuck.

But this morning I received a pleasant reminder from a friend about remembering the small things that make life worth living. So, to have some perspective, here are some great things that redeemed yesterday's passage quite remarkably:
1. I beasted through my Social Psych test. I was much better prepared than I thought. Cool!
2. I got out of the test early enough to make it to noon Mass. WHOA. I should stop right there.
3. I had an excellent lunch conversation with two friends about theology.
4. After that conversation, a gentleman sitting nearby grabbed my attention and told me he was listening in and that he was impressed. :)
5. I found my lost headphones, which is great because now I can listen to my new Matt Maher album!
6. Instead of trying to finish my homework in the hour and a half before it was due at night class, I scrambled into one of the new hammocks on campus and listened to my iPod (with my newfound headphones) and simply renewed my love for music for about 20 minutes.
7. The weather was GORGEOUS outside at this time. :)
8. After deciding to meet a friend for dinner, I managed to get out the hammock by rolling out of it onto the ground. Quite a feat. And very amusing.
9. CLC last night was GREAT. Instead of doing the meditation we had planned, we spent the hour talking about everything: theology, philosophy, psychology, politics, morality, government....literally everything. :)
10. I was able to spend some time at a friend's house talking about the little things of our lives before heading off to bed.

Why in the world would I have ever said yesterday was a bad day? Because Satan sucks, that's why. (Guardian angels, protect us!)

Remember the little blessings. There's a reason Romans 12:12 starts with REJOICE IN HOPE. It's what we should do first, and its what we should focus on while enduring in affliction and persevering in prayer.

Are you rejoicing in hope? If not, give it a shot. My entire day yesterday was turned around by those 10 small things. I have the feeling yours will be too. :)

Grace to you, and peace.