Ashlie Miller

By Ashlie Miller

We were braced for it: a well-stocked pantry for cozy recipes thanks to an email newsletter; boots brought from the garage to be warm enough to welcome eager feet; gloves paired into actual matches to protect hands for snowball fighting. 

At the first sign of flurries, I popped a couple of frozen hash browns into the toaster oven, switched on the electric hot water pot, and opened a sleeve of hot cocoa powder. The littlest kids were ready! I sent them to the treehouse with treats in hand (or, rather, mittens). I spied upon them from the kitchen-nook window as they nibbled on their salty potatoes, sipped their decadent cocoa, and wishfully watched the flurries fall. 

It was not long before the teens came out, ready for adventure. One took the siblings through the woods to “Big Rock” – our name for the boulder along the survey line of a neighbor’s backyard. It isn’t quite Narnia, but one can believe it is nearby. Later, they successfully had a snowball fight. Where did enough snow for that come from? Well, Dad had forgotten to remind them not to scrape off the snow from the cars – oops! 

“Can we make snow cream?” my daughter asked as she presented a small monolith of snow in her mittens. “Is there really that much snow?” I asked, bewildered. The snow bowl that had been optimistically set out was scant; she had scraped snow off the dirty railing. Oh dear, it really has been too long for them to remember any snow etiquette. 

With hopeful hearts, the children finally came in for a dinner of fireside stew by the gas-fire logs (naturally). We decided to watch “Prince Caspian” from the Narnia series because we had rewatched “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” during Christmas break. These movies feel quite wintry.

Topping off the evening were small bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes that I had frozen recently to thaw out for the perfect occasion. This certainly seemed to be shaping up to be such. 

However, as you know, the evening did not end with more snowfall but rather ice, sleet, and cold rain. Wistfully, we all went to bed. The next day did not look magical; it looked disappointing. But, I still had a couple of little people eager to get the most out of the barely used sleds – sleds purchased at a yard sale maybe a couple of years ago, still in like-new condition. And guess what – you can slide pretty successfully on frozen grass, even if it looks just like normal brownish-green grass! It may have only given an hour’s or so worth of fun, but it was fun just the same. 

Sometimes our expectations are not met. More likely, it is truer to say they are seldom met. I am a realist and feel more like a pessimist at times, but slowly, I am learning to make lemonade from lemons. No, we can’t make snow cream out of dirty snow. But rather than sulk or blame the weatherman, we can choose to foster gratitude in the little people watching us. Little eyes are watching me. They are still making memories. They won’t all be awesome, but good enough can be sufficient, too.

Ashlie Miller and her family grass-sled in Concord, NC. You may email her at: mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Holidays sometimes provide unique opportunities to hear grand stories of someone’s life. You may have collected some new ones yourself over the past couple of months: things you never knew about a person, hints into mysteries of family ‘lore, retellings of big stories that are almost legendary. But then, there are those important stories that were forever life-changing. 

While visiting my folks’ home on Christmas I happened upon my mom’s devotional books and Bibles resting on a table in the sitting room where she often read. Tucked inside a book, I spied a couple of sheets of lined notebook paper. I fingered the folded sheets, gently opening them, as though I was trespassing upon something sacred. I instantly recognized the handwriting. Though she rarely journaled and only signed her name “Mom” on birthday cards, I remember her handwriting from all those years of notes left conveniently on my bathroom counter reminding me to complete chores that she listed (boy, did I try to avoid going to the bathroom early on a summer morning – ignorance is bliss!). 

Though not a lengthy note, it briefly detailed her life’s story – at least the most significant parts she found worth sharing. It was a story of searching, finding, getting off track, and finally feeling freedom from the chains of sin – freedom still felt even while going through great tragedy and sorrow. The details are private, but the idea of writing out or sharing a testimony is priceless. 

I shared photos of my newly discovered treasure with my son, interning at a retreat and camp center in Western NC. Even through a text, he felt more closely connected to who she was. He felt closer to home. The timing of sending it was divine: he had been dealing with a particularly trying weekend. Sharing testimonies is encouraging. 

Another week, a young missionary shared a brief testimony during our Sunday service. She related an encounter where she had to ask God to move in hearts and open the door for her to speak the gospel when a door seemed almost impossible to maneuver. God answered that prayer. An hour after that service, my son called asking for prayer to connect with a young camper uncertain of his eternity. I shared the missionary’s testimony with him, cautioning him against manipulating moments but rather waiting on the Holy Spirit to do the work He promised to do of convicting. Sharing testimonies is encouraging and can give direction.

It’s not a new story. The Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 8 in the Bible, who ministered to Elisha, the Lord’s prophet, and whose son Elisha raised from the dead, had a remarkable testimony. It was so moving that the king of Israel heard about it, met her, and was so astounded that he restored the land and produce she had left while escaping a famine. Testimonies are powerful!

Many years ago, I remember my mom being on a personal mission to gather testimonies from friends – friends whose stories had been forgotten or remained unshared a generation later yet were a big part of who they became. I am so thankful for those stories she shared with me and even more thankful for the one I stumbled upon on Christmas evening.

Testimonies of the Lord’s transformation in lives, His presence and direction, and His mighty power move lives. They are not meant to be kept to ourselves. Sharing them empowers and encourages others, often when we have no idea they need to hear them. Maybe you need to hear one. Ask someone who you see walking in peace and joy. Perhaps you have one that needs to be heard or retold. When you feel a prompting, share it with someone who may not know the path you have walked.

By Ashlie Miller

Golden cornbread, deep dark collard greens, side meat and black-eyed peas in a dish of Hoppin’ John. Red beans, andouille sausage, and rice. Long noodles, dumplings, pomegranates? There are so many fascinating food traditions for New Year’s Day. I did not grow up with that custom, but several years ago, my husband shared that his grandmother did serve a Southern version of good fortune meals. And by the looks of the restocking of bags of dried black-eyed peas happening at Food Lion on New Year’s Eve, many of you also hold fast to this tradition.

I’m not superstitious (or even a “little stitious” for those who know that joke), but I do love traditions to mark days and seasons. Several years ago, I adapted the tradition for our family. I’m sure I stole – or nicely modified – the idea from someone to whom I now can’t recall to give credit. 

I apologize to the Southern mamas who can make good collards. I have no experience, but I am open to your tips. We settle for cabbage, which in its own right is a reference to cash. Sometimes, I might roast Brussel sprouts. This year, I used a can of Glory Foods canned greens and made cabbage and carrots for the less adventurous. Usually, we have blacked-eyed peas with some pork. This year, I used a recipe from Our State magazine for Hoppin’ John that did not disappoint. For the younger tastebuds, we also make macaroni and cheese (hey, it’s golden!). A good cornbread mix rounds out the meal. It is simple food – a perfect way to begin a year – simplicity. 

As we eat, we reflect on a year past and anticipate the year we have stepped into. We open the Bible and read verses like Psalm 65:11 – “You have crowned the year with bounty; Your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.” 

Then, we prayerfully read Proverbs 30:7-9:

“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me flashed and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.”

I’ve read stories that the old rabbis would give their young students saucers of honey as they read from the Torah so they would associate the sweetness of the honey with God’s Word – “taste and see.” I hope meals and traditions like these will forge sweet, lasting memories for my family and my spirit. 

If you have not already had a New Year’s meal, perhaps make one today. It does not have to be symbolic foods, but something simply memorable to set your heart up for a year of gratitude and dependence on the Maker and Redeemer. 

Now, will someone please pass the cornbread?

Ashlie Miller and her family rang in the New Year at their home in Concord, NC. Please send your collard tips to mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

“Bah, humbug” may be the most familiar quote from Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, but another quote captures who the man becomes by the end of the book: “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.”

“Keeping Christmas” is not quite the same as prolonging it. You may already have your Christmas tree on the curb and most of your seasonal decor packed away. Perhaps you wait until the New Year to remove festal decorations. Some of us will wait until the end of the 12 Days of Christmas (Epiphany), while others will have lights or door wreaths that need to be put away well into March. The delay in putting away or prolonging the nostalgia is not what is meant by “keeping Christmas.”

In case you need a refresher, Ebenezer Scrooge begins his journey like many good stories – life as usual with a glimpse into what the character needs or wants. It becomes painfully obvious that the “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner” that is Scrooge needs a softened, generous, merciful heart. Three spirits agree and reveal to Scrooge who he was, who he is, and who he is on course to become. 

The hardened man we first meet was once a young boy escaping the tragedies of reality with a terrific imagination absorbed in his books. For the first time, Ebenezer faces the humanity of the poor, pitiful soul he once was. He sees the boy become a man who had much – not just in stacks of coins, but even in love – and loses the more important of the two due to his own fear of the world.

Next, we see his current state and how his lack of interaction and concern with his fellow man affects others. Confronted with who he is, he desires to become involved in the lives of those he knows. Looking into the course he is setting toward his future, denial becomes realization, leading to regret, remorse, and, ultimately, repentance. He is a changed man.

While our Christmas songs, movies, and adornments may get carefully stored for another year, we can and should strive to honor Christmas in our hearts throughout the year. It is good to look momentarily at our past, our failures, and even our hurts and recognize the Savior who came to heal us and make us anew. We must look to our present and see missed opportunities to engage and love those around us. Our future is both very distant and arriving sooner than we anticipate. It can be a future of hope and promise or a devastating one we know we deserve but do not want to face. A right look at the past, present, and future and making peace by knowing the Prince of Peace can ensure being able to “keep Christmas” by keeping Christ at the center of every day, not just one holiday. 

How about you? Want to join me in keeping Christmas all year and living in the past, present, and future?

Ashlie Miller extends her seasonal decor until Epiphany, not because she celebrates the day, but because she needs an acceptable excuse for slowly packing it all away.

By Ashlie Miller

“There are two types of people – those who like white lights and those who like colored lights. And they marry each other.” I read this in a Facebook post and chuckled at how true those words are. You may have your own strong opinions about the subject, but there is something about twinkling lights on a tree or candles in the window this time of year. 

They remind many of us of the skies that first Christmas night. The New Testament book of Luke in the Bible tells us that when shepherds in the fields looked up, a multitude of heavenly hosts filled the sky and the glory of the Lord shone around them! No wonder the shepherds were filled with great fear. They were familiar with the heavens and had never seen anything like this night! Lowly shepherds, the least of the least being the first on the guest list to see the king born in a manger. Nothing had ever been proclaimed to them, and now – a loud, illuminating proclamation they would never forget.

Not only were heavenly beings lighting up the darkness above, but a new star, the Bethlehem star, was being intently followed by wise men who would only find precisely where the star was leading after a journey of a couple of years. But we know that “when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10). Wise men dabbled between pagan understandings of the sky with a lifelong search that had never been quenched. They followed a star, remembering something about the prophecies of those chosen people they had heard so long ago. That star! Who else saw this star, knew it to be something out of the ordinary, but dismissed it? Not these. They pursued it until it led them to worship.

Psalms 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Never was this more true than that spectacular night! 

Yet, the glory was not merely above the clouds proclaiming through songs of angels nor something mysterious shining in the celestials. The glory of God had come down to earth as Emmanuel – God with us. We call him Jesus. 

Today, God is with us in the person of His Holy Spirit, abiding in hearts that make room for Him. Yet, we still wait for Jesus to come and dwell among us again in a perfect home. 

Many of us do not have the blessing of living in vast country spaces devoid of city lights or even streetlights. We cannot have a clear, unobscured view of the night sky in all its glory. Even if we did, nothing compares to the evening Christ was born. Yet, maybe with childlike wonder, we can drive to the neighborhood nearby adorned in festive light, a drive through that Christmas village, or even simply do as my youngest children and grab a cozy blanket and a pillow and lay under the Christmas tree, looking up into the colored or white lights above. 

Close your eyes and imagine that first Christmas night and give thanks that the message came to you wherever you are. 

Ashlie Miller and her family compromise with both colored and white lights. Her 7 year old’s favorite tree can do both lights with a fun switch that he has discovered.

By Ashlie Miller

February may be the shortest month on the calendar, but many of us would agree that no month flies by as quickly as December. My children may hold exception to that as they anxiously await Christmas Day, and those gifts wrapped in the Comics section of the Salisbury Post no longer taunt them. (Sidenote: The paper is actually sturdier than many rolls of gift wrap, and it is easier to determine if tampering has occurred.)

We know it’s coming. We have the entire year to prepare, yet by November, we often find ourselves bracing for an overly packed schedule, leaving little time to soak in the season. Tremendous efforts go into planning for merriment, and we often find ourselves rushing around to enjoy it. In the end, we are content with just being happy for a moment. Perhaps this is why the marketplace has mostly shifted gears from wishing “Merry Christmas” to hoping they can at least assist in making “Happy Holidays.” But that is for another column. 

So, how do we make this season merry? Or should we ask if it is too late and if we should settle for happiness?

Many homeschool moms know the secret to thriving during the holidays, thanks to something called “Christmas schooling.” Themes abound for unit studies on the history of Christmas, celebrating around the world, exploring Christmas carols, or even The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Instead of teaching routine lessons to children with visions of sugarplums dancing about in their heads, we get hands-on experience with the best of the holiday season – making crafts, baking, packing shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and so much more. Our busy-ness is merry-making and sharing with others. 

Refreshment in learning is not only for the children. Hillsdale College offers a free online study on The Christmas Carol this season, which I am enjoying. I often am awake very early – something I did not always see as a gift. Instead of lamenting an early rising, I have captured the time by the tree and a gas-log fire with video lessons. Along with Advent devotions and a yearly Bible reading plan, my morning is already a little more merry. Throughout my daily chores, I can put an old Christmas vinyl on the turntable or listen to a podcast featuring a seasonal radio drama. 

Reconsidering our calendars can also bring refreshment. A night off is not a hole that needs to be filled. If you are planning to host an event, and someone in the home is sick, it is OK to cancel or reschedule after the holidays. Sometimes, a canceled event is a gift to others who love you but need an unscheduled evening. 

And those things we planned to do but couldn’t make the time to enjoy? Those are great for the week after Christmas – an often neglected week in our culture – still considered the holiday season for many. 

Can you make time to redeem the coming weeks with cheer? The choice is ours – we can survive the hustle and bustle with a Happy Holiday or slow down and reclaim a Merry Christmas!

Ashlie Miller has found many lovely resources for a season of enjoyment. Email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com for some suggestions or to share some!

By Ashlie Miller

Last week’s white dusting either met you with delight or an eye-roll. “Marked safe during snowmageddon,” quipped some on social media. “A real snow has to be at least 3 inches,” I heard another say. Yes, quite true, not a real snow. Yet, like many mothers, I awoke early enough to lay out snow clothes – a thick coat, snow bibs worn only a couple of times even before they became hand-me-downs, layers of socks, and water-resistant gloves. The night before, I had grabbed some discounted chocolate croissants at the local grocery bakery. This would be just the refreshment needed to begin our December, and yes, it would be a “snow day,” or at least until it melted by lunchtime. We are homeschoolers, after all.

I stepped into my children’s rooms and slowly pulled back the window shade, asking them to lift themselves enough out of bed to spy out the frosted window panes. Confusion – “I thought you had put white cotton balls outside! – collided with delight – “Can we go out now?!” They were eager to make snow cream, snow angels, snow forts, and snowballs and go sledding, so they scurried to pile on clothing, coats, and boots. Mind you, it had been 1038 days (depending on whose count you rely upon) – so memory was distant and faded of exactly the quality and quantity needed for each activity. “I hope it stays until Christmas!” soon became replaced with “I hope it lasts until tomorrow!”  

I took the youngest adventure-seekers out into the woods because we know that Narnia is out there when it snows. Treasures always await us in even the lightest blanket of snow. Everything looks more mysterious and magical. That walk did not disappoint. Little brother wanted to hit things covered in snow to watch it drift whimsically upon himself and the ground. Big sister wanted to be surrounded by untouched snow, so her aggravation with a wriggly brother was understandable. 

Upon returning back to our warm abode, realization of how precious and “like a breath” this snow really was hit hard. As I went inside to prepare warm nourishment, a downcast little boy soon came in looking much forlorn. “It’s already melting,” he said in a somber tone. So sad, he could not be coaxed to go back outside. 

Something so beautiful, long-awaited, and refreshing was now gone. Anticipation has a way of doing that to us, doesn’t it? Once the waiting is over and the event arrives, do you ever feel sad, asking yourself, “What do I do now?” Last year, I felt the weight of that immensely. It made me read the passages in Scripture differently when the disciples had to say “goodbye” to their greatest friend – Jesus. Somehow, I more closely resonate.

Although Advent reminds us of God coming to earth in a tiny, perfect, human form, it also reminds us of another anticipation we have as Christians – the return of Christ. And unlike our earthly anticipations that, once met, still leave us wanting, this will be perfect inhabitation in a perfect world forever with our Creator and Savior. It will no longer “always be winter but never Christmas,” as Mr. Tumnus the faun tells Lucy in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. What a blissful, most wonderful time of life that will be!

Ashlie Miller and her family make the most of snow, rain puddles, and rainbows in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Were you among those waiting for Mariah Carey to “thaw” and ring in the Christmas season with her “All I Want for Christmas”? Perhaps you like to stick to Christmas carols reminiscent of Charles Dickens, or maybe you prefer to stick to true Christmas hymns. 

I love songs that build upon the timeline of Christ’s arrival. Some artists have entire projects dedicated to the Advent season. In the last couple of years, I have added two songs to my playlist I would not have cherished in my earlier years. Artists Andrew Peterson and the group Poor Bishop Hooper each have songs based on Matthew 1 – Christ’s genealogy. Lyrics to Peterson’s “Matthew’s Begats” and Poor Bishop Hooper’s “Christ” may read like very boring songs to kick off the Christmas season, but for a true Advent season, they appropriately begin December. 

Today, in our modern experience, genealogies are intriguing to explore on websites like Ancestry.com and perhaps fun to watch unfolding on shows like PBS’s Finding Your Roots, but other than to fill in our family history, we do not do much with them. However, the gospel of Matthew begins by showing the significance of preserving genealogies for the Jewish people. This disciple of Christ establishes His legitimacy to claim the throne of David, fulfilling the prophecy of the “anointed one” and the promise of the long-standing covenant with Israel as His chosen vessel. God was sending Jesus to bless the entire world through Abraham’s descendants. 

But let’s zero in on some of the individuals mentioned in Matthew 1. I encourage you to take time to get acquainted with them. Consider a son of Jacob (Judah), who had, in his youth, sold another brother into slavery. God humbled him when he failed to care for a neglected widow in his family, an error he inadvertently corrected, leading to a transformation in his heart. Next on the list is this widow (Tamar) who had to resort to deception to gain her rights to be cared for and provided for. We see Rahab, the prostitute, who knew the Israelites had access to the God she wanted to know. She is the mother to Boaz, who is the kinsman redeemer to Ruth, a Moabite woman – a forbidden people – representing people God was making a way to forgive and include by sending Jesus. Then, we see “the wife of Uriah” – such a mark on the family legacy; it is almost too much to mention her (even though it is David who marred her name). If we saw these people at a family gathering for nobility, we would question – “Who invited them?” 

We see several kings listed and come to Jechoniah – a wicked king, so sinful that his family was cursed. It would seem all hope was lost for fulfilling the prophecy of an “anointed one” to come from a cursed, evil ancestry, even if it came from the line of David. Yet, God’s sovereignty is not limited to those who would seemingly put an end to His plans. 

Wow, what an overwhelming thought – God’s devotion to Himself and His plans at which He is always working; His unfailing love for humanity! Can you make that personal at the dawn of this Advent season? Look at your life and character choices over your lifetime, over the last year, or perhaps even the previous week. How has God shown you unfailing, steadfast love? Can you see your inability to gain or earn His love and promises? Take a look at Matthew 1, maybe listen to the songs, and begin your Advent season with humble reflection and worship. 

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

By Ashlie Miller

Is this a demanding season for you? It seems to be for many of us. Maybe everyone needs your input or your listening ear while you struggle to find time to vent your frustrations and worries to someone. Your schedule is busy with purposeful but also exhausting events. The children are especially busy, needing you as chauffeur or as a nurse to administer lots of TLC as they work through another cold or stomach bug. With a schedule limiting evenings at home, it feels like the list of chores needing completion – dishes, clothing, basic cleaning – keeps building up untouched. Days at the office seem incredibly demanding – particularly right before the holidays and vacation. And to top it all off, the 15+-year-old vehicle needs a new ABS, engine, or tires, and you had hoped to use that money for something else.

Sometimes, when we are tired and overworked, we miss the time to pause and wonder, falling into a pattern of complaining. “I don’t think I can listen to another person and provide an answer or an undistracted, understanding listening ear!” “Do the kids have to go to that social gathering to connect with friends?” “This house is such a mess! Why do we have all this stuff?!” “Why do they always need me so much this season?” “Why can’t we get a new vehicle?”

I’ve heard words like that even exit my own lips. Sadly, some of my closest friends have, too. It isn’t that we are even guilty of complaining a lot, but we find that one person we can vent to. A dear friend reminded me during one particularly emotional and heavy season when friends needed my empathy and encouragement, and I wasn’t sure I could help one more person – “What a blessing that they feel they can come to you and that you have something to offer them.” Ouch. Yes, what a blessing that they see a patient, ready-to-listen person who may offer them hope, even if inside, I feel quite differently. 

Those children who are wearing me out physically and sometimes emotionally – we were never sure we would get to have one – but five?! And to have a husband – an only child himself – who was happy to expand our family to such an unfamiliar limit for him? Amazing! That house that never gets to be picture perfect is a testimony to a full home with lots of life (“Where no oxen are, the manger is clean…” Proverbs 14:4). Our vehicles have not entirely worn out – reminding me of the sandals the children of Israel wore for 40 years in the desert. And as I catch my breath between it all, turning the corner of another birthday, I can celebrate having the strength and energy to keep up with family, ministry, and friends. 

I could complain. I have complained. Scripture gives stern warnings and stories about complaining (read up on those Old Testament Israelites!). But I can learn from them and remember that the things I complain about are the answers to someone else’s as-of-yet unanswered prayers. Maybe when I run out of things to give thanks for this week, I’ll instead write out a list of things I complain about and turn those into things to thank God for. Maybe you can, too!

Ashlie Miller counts her blessings and tries to minimize her complaints in Concord, NC, where she and her husband raise their family.

By Ashlie Miller

Is Thanksgiving about giving thanks for what we have? “We’re blessed,” we say, often remarking on our surroundings and provisions. But this year, maybe we see other reasons to be thankful because of what is lacking. We really do know many who have lost everything – and that is not hyperbole. What do these people have to be grateful for? Better question – how are they able to seem happy after such destruction?

We were discussing gratitude at our home recently when my husband shared a quote and video from an interview with Michael J. Fox, the famous actor from the 1980s and 90s, who has been living with Parkinson’s for 30+ years. Fox says:  “With gratitude, optimism is sustainable. If you find something to be grateful for, then you find something to look forward to, and you can carry on.” A link between gratitude and optimism. 

Later in the week, my children and I were studying a unit on giving thanks, comparing “happiness” and “gratitude.” How are they similar? How are they different? How are they linked? The illustration was vivid – observe most small children when opening gifts. You will likely see a pursuit of happiness chasing more happiness as they toss aside the unwrapped gift for what is still hiding beneath the tree. “Is that all? Is there another gift? Who is that other gift for over in the corner?” Gratitude may not be genuinely present beyond a parent reminding them to “say thank you.” And so, the child seems more spoiled and discontent than happy. Our lesson taught us that hunting for happiness does not successfully lead to gratitude. 

On the other hand, many of us can think of a cheerful soul who leads their life with gratitude. Each day begins with seeing good gifts from above hidden in the middle of a tragedy or turbulence. The grateful person is the happy person. Or at least they are joyful since we know that happiness is based on circumstances, and joy is more profound.

But what about when you don’t feel like giving thanks? Or do you not like your present situation or the future on the horizon for an indefinite period? What then?

Consider what radio host and ministry founder Joni Eareckson Tada says about gratitude: “God isn’t asking you to be thankful. He’s asking you to give thanks. There’s a big difference. One response involves emotions, the other your choices, your decisions about a situation, your intent, your step of faith.” If you are unfamiliar with her, I encourage you to learn more about her story and the life-altering accident that led to a life of suffering and gratitude. It really puts this quote into perspective.

The idea that we are to give thanks to God whether or not we feel thankful is countercultural to us today. But I pray our friends in the mountains lead the way in giving thanks, letting gratitude be a lens that leads toward optimism, and blazing a path to something more than happiness. 

Ashlie Miller and her family live in Concord, NC. You may contact her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.