Reflections 5/5/2020: My “Jesus Always” devotional used the phrase, “linger in gratitude” for today’s thought. I was fascinated by the word, “linger,” so I looked it up. “To remain or stay on in a place longer than is usual or expected, as if from reluctance to leave; to dwell in contemplation, thought, or enjoyment.” WOW! “Reluctance to leave!” “Desire to dwell!” Getting so caught up in the delight of thanking You, God, for answered and sometimes even unanswered prayers… (thanks for putting the kibosh on many of my high school crushes!), that walking away from this endorphin drop just doesn’t make sense! Funny how as we are attempting to bless You with our gratitude, the overflow becomes sooo sweet that we end up getting an even bigger blessing. So “lingering” makes sense! Prolonged joy! Presence to presence connection successfully linked! Being a bit of a goal setter, it is easy for me to rush past an answered prayer with merely a perfunctory “thank You Jesus” and immediately focus on the next request. What a missed opportunity for lingered rhapsody! Use this quarantine time to teach me to “linger” in these moments of gratitude, with new appreciation for the joy they bring!