Many of us spend so much time looking ahead that we forget to look around.

We focus on the goal we have not reached, the opportunity we have not received, the answer we are still waiting for, or the person who failed to support us. Before long, we convince ourselves that nothing is happening.

The truth is that life is happening right now.

The blessing is happening right now.

The growth is happening right now.

The miracle is happening right now.

When I look at my own life, there are still goals I am working toward. There are dreams that continue to develop. There are prayers I place in God's hands every day.

Yet there are also blessings everywhere I look.

My children continue to grow into incredible young people.

I have opportunities to serve students and families through my work in education.

Merchant Ship Collective continues to open doors I never expected and connect me with people I never would have met otherwise.

When I stop and pay attention, I realize that many of the things I once prayed for are already present in my life.

Scripture reminds us:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Gratitude does not require a perfect life. It requires a willingness to recognize the good that already exists.

When I first planted the seed that became Merchant Ship Collective, I thought I knew what it would become.

I had ideas.

I had goals.

I had expectations.

Some of those expectations became reality.

Others evolved into something completely different.

What I have learned is that God's purpose is often greater than our plans.

Sometimes we plant what we believe is a pumpkin and God grows a sunflower instead.

The pumpkin would have been useful.

The sunflower is useful too.

The pumpkin would have been beautiful.

The sunflower is beautiful too.

The blessing is not found in controlling the outcome.

The blessing is found in trusting the One who provides the growth.

When I started Merchant Ship Collective, I did not have everything figured out.

I did not have a perfect business plan.

I did not have a perfect strategy.

I did not have all the answers.

What I had was a willingness to begin.

Many people spend years waiting for the perfect moment before taking action.

The problem is that perfection is often the very thing that keeps us from growing.

You do not have to be perfect to start something new.

You do not have to be perfect to make a difference.

You do not have to be perfect for God to work through your life.

You simply have to be willing to plant the seed.

Scripture reminds us:

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." — Ephesians 3:20

God is not limited by our expectations.

Recently, I was reminded that some of the most meaningful blessings start with a simple idea.

Our bearded dragon, Henry, eats mealworms regularly. Living in a small community, buying live mealworms often meant driving farther than I wanted or planning ahead to make sure we didn't run out.

One day, I asked myself a simple question:

What if I raised them myself?

The original goal was not to start a business.

The goal was simply to save money and make life a little easier for my family.

What started as a practical solution quickly became something more.

Before long, I was raising enough mealworms to help other people in the community who needed them for reptiles, chickens, and other animals. Along the way, I shared the process with someone else who wanted to start their own colony.

I don't believe in gatekeeping good ideas.

If something has the potential to help another person, share it.

Ideas grow when they are planted in more than one place.

The mealworm farm was not created because I was an expert.

It was not created because I had every answer.

It started because I was willing to learn.

Had I waited until I felt completely qualified, I never would have started.

One evening, I sold $20 worth of mealworms. Later that night, I realized I needed to run back to the store for a few items I had forgotten while grocery shopping earlier that day.

When I checked out, my total came to just under $20.

Some people would call that coincidence.

I saw it as a reminder.

A reminder that God notices the small things.

A reminder that provision does not always arrive in dramatic ways.

A reminder that gratitude changes how we experience life.

Scripture tells us:

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." — Luke 16:10

Sometimes we spend so much time waiting for the big breakthrough that we overlook the blessings already unfolding around us.

The world is not perfect.

People will disappoint you.

Plans will change.

Life will surprise you.

Yet there is another truth that deserves equal attention.

People will encourage you.

Unexpected opportunities will appear.

New friendships will form.

Doors will open.

Blessings will arrive in ways you never anticipated.

If I focused on every person who I thought should have supported me throughout my journey, I probably would have quit by now.

Instead, I choose to focus on the people who did.

For every person who doubted me, there has been another person who believed in me.

For every challenge, there has been an opportunity.

For every setback, there has been a lesson.

That is balance.

This is not about pretending difficulties do not exist.

This is not toxic positivity.

This is about choosing to see the whole picture.

You do not have to ignore the hard things to be grateful for the good things.

In fact, gratitude is often most powerful when life is imperfect.

You do not need a perfect bank account to be grateful.

You do not need perfect circumstances to be grateful.

You do not need a perfect life to be grateful.

When we intentionally look for what is good, we begin to see how much goodness is already present.

Never underestimate the impact of your faithfulness.

The dream you pursue may inspire someone else to start.

The lesson you share may help someone else avoid a mistake.

The encouragement you offer may arrive at exactly the right moment.

The courage you demonstrate may give another person permission to be courageous.

One person can absolutely make a difference.

History proves it.

Faith proves it.

Every meaningful movement began with one person deciding to take a step.

Scripture says:

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." — Zechariah 4:10

Small beginnings often lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Whatever seed God has placed in your heart, keep planting.

Keep learning.

Keep growing.

Keep sharing.

Keep believing.

You do not need every answer today.

You do not need everyone's approval.

You do not need perfect conditions.

You do not need perfection.

You simply need the courage to take the next faithful step.

The seed still matters.

Your purpose still matters.

Your contribution still matters.

And God's plan for your life is still unfolding.

This week, take a few moments to reflect on a seed you have planted in your own life.

Maybe it is a business.

Maybe it is a relationship.

Maybe it is a personal goal.

Maybe it is a dream that has been sitting quietly in your heart for years.

Write down three blessings that already exist because you had the courage to begin.

Then choose one small action that moves your seed forward this week.

Trust God with the harvest and focus on planting faithfully.

• I do not need to be perfect to begin.

• I trust God's plan even when it looks different than my own.

• I choose gratitude for the blessings already present in my life.

• My small actions can create meaningful change.

• I release the need to control every outcome.

• I am growing into the person God created me to be.

• The seeds I plant today have purpose.

• I move forward with faith, confidence, and hope.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for every seed You have planted in my heart. Thank You for the dreams, opportunities, lessons, and blessings that continue to grow in my life.

Help me recognize Your goodness in both the extraordinary and the ordinary moments. Teach me to be grateful for what I have while continuing to trust You for what is still to come.

Give me the courage to begin before I feel ready, the wisdom to learn as I grow, and the faith to trust Your direction when the path looks different than I expected.

Help me become a source of encouragement, hope, and light to those around me. Remind me that small beginnings matter and that You are able to do far more than I could ever imagine.

May I move forward with confidence, gratitude, and faith, knowing that You are guiding every step.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

You do not have to be perfect to start.

You do not have to be perfect to make a difference.

You do not have to be perfect to be grateful.

Plant the seed.

Take the step.

Notice the blessings.

Trust the Gardener.

You may discover that what God grows is even more beautiful than what you originally imagined.

In solidarity,

Lyndsay LaBrier

The Merchant Ship Collective