Rejoice! A school bus.

Enjoying an attitude of gratitude listening to Matthew West’s song, the “Heart of Christmas” plays on my car radio. Graciously celebrating the small-things, I count my blessings, and I am thankful on my way to work, I am not behind a school bus.

In a state of gratefulness for there is no school bus in sight, hitting my brakes to slow down two and a half tons of steel rolling down a long and winding road becomes unnecessary.

In this joyful state, I am writing a story in my head about being grateful for what we do not get. I did not get stuck behind a school bus so I am thinking I can write a story about simply rejoicing about the things that do NOT happen to us and counting it as a blessing.

But wait! 30 seconds later two blind curves ahead of me on this narrow road in the mountains, red lights are flashing as I navigate the sharp twists in the road. You guessed it. A stopped school bus.

“Oh snap!” Radiating through my mind is, “There goes my story about being grateful for what we do not receive.

Remaining joyous, without a shred of impatience, I  am inquisitive as to why would a bus show up on my path after counting my blessing of a clear path to work. I soon learn why.

Habbukkak 3:17-18 comes to my mind where it says “Though the fig tree does not blossom and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails, though there are no sheep in the pen or cattle in the stalls yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Saviour.”

Translation…. Whether things are good or bad, either way rejoice in the Lord whether you are stuck behind a school bus or not.

“Rejoice! Just like the U2 song says “What am I to do? What am I to say? I cannot change the world I can only change the world in me if I rejoice, REJOICE.”

Allow me to encourage you. When you get stuck behind a school bus…REJOICE. When you are not behind a school bus….Rejoice! Either way Rejoice! Please share with me. What are you rejoicing about this Christmas season?