Have you ever noticed how the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets are seen through clouds? I know I’ve written about this before, but it never ceases to amaze me. I’ve photographed hundreds of sun rises and sets, but they’re all special and different and beautiful in their own ways. The same is true for people. We are all singular, incredible creations.

In spite of being told by God that we are beautifully and wonderfully made, we all tend towards using a lot of negative self-talk. We focus on the negatives we see as human beings, taking our focus away from the myriad of ways we are blessed. Words matter, particularly the words we use when we talk to ourselves. They illustrate our deepest held beliefs. They are proof of where we choose to keep our minds. They are powerful and we have the ability to control them.

I think this is a difficult ability to master, though. It takes constant and consistent effort. For me, I choose to replace the negative thoughts with different words. Even if the only words I can find are the simple utterances of my mind’s voice in prayer saying, “Help me, God. Thank you, God. I love you, God.” I will say those words over and over again until I feel the light of God dissipate the weight of the darkness.

Every day we make hundreds of small choices, and just like each sunrise, sunset, and snowflake, those choice are singular. Even when we make the same choices day in and day out (to not take that drink, to get out and walk the dogs, to make the bed every morning), each time we choose, our circumstances at the time of choosing are fleeting. The consequences of those choices are cumulative. This is why we have to make our choices based on something more concrete than our circumstances.

When we allow our circumstances to define us in any way, we’ve lost sight of our most basic and vital truth: we are children of God, first and foremost. THAT is what should define everything else. Over the last couple of years, I’ve learned even more deeply exactly how important that definition is in my life. Readjusting my perspective to stay consistent with my belief in Christ has changed my mindset down to my core. I see everything through that lens before any other.

In February of 2024, we faced my breast cancer diagnosis. That was a tough one. I didn’t want to be someone who had cancer. I just wanted to keep being me. I find it difficult even now to be reminded of that time. Follow up appointments, while all have gone well, have been unwelcome reminders of that experience. At the end of November 2024, my precious husband had an aortic dissection and spent two harrowing weeks in the cardiac care unit. That was an even harder challenge to face than the cancer diagnosis. It certainly scared me a lot more.

I found a song during that time, though (“I’m so blessed” by CAIN), and I would listen to it in the car over and over again, as I drove to and from the hospital each day. It was my reminder that, no matter what my circumstances happen to be, I am truly a blessed child of God at ALL times. He was with me every moment of that journey, as He has been with every other moment of my life. He has sustained me and one day He will bring me home.

Until then, I will do my best to follow His will in every circumstance and to do so with a joyful heart. That last part is much more of a challenge, to be sure, but it’s one I will always hope to achieve. I heard a statement recently that resonated very deeply with me. Essentially, it said that people don’t determine their futures, they determine their habits. It’s their habits that determine their futures.” Learn to recognize the bad habits and then learn to choose a different way.