Gratitude

It was a surprise gift sent to me by Tricia, a friend who I know only through the internet. She has been on my devotional list for years and we have visited many a time about one topic or another, but mostly she is known as a valiant encourager. The gift was a book that many of you have probably read or at least heard of, titled, "One Thousand Gifts." I was traveling recently and grabbed it to take with me but did not get into it til the flight back. I was expecting a light little devotional book but this little book has spurred a deepened sense of my need for gratitude to Christ. It is a heavy read at first but then begins to lighten your heart up as it encourages you to be thinking of the joy through thanksgiving that is received even when we acknowledge the littlest of things in life to be thankful for.
This is not a book report, but merely a reminder to search for thanksgiving.
We get loaded up with to-do's and obligations, and routine quests and trouble shooting and too many times, I don't know about you but the blessings that are before me often times get overlooked. This book jarred me to start really consciously seeking out the things that were before me that I was thankful for. I mean little things, like I love the way my baby Molly looks at me when I give her a bottle, or the blessing of having a sick child home and being able to comfort her, or the clothes that I have to choose from in my closet, or the husband who I adore who comes home each night, or my daughters who are always johnny on the spot to take over in a crisis when we are out of town. It really is kind of crazy when your focus shifts to the things to be thankful for. It overrides so many of those other thoughts that are often times so cumbersome and overwhelming.

In this book, the author, Ann Voskamp, a farmers' wife in Ontario, backs up her intended message of thankfulness with scripture. Oh sure you have heard it preached, and taught and even read about how you should be thankful, so have I. But for some reason this young mom of six has put a different spin on it. She has experienced great pain and has baggage just like the rest of us, but a simple email from a friend inspired her to make a list of a thousand things to be thankful for, and she did it. I started my list, in my head, and it is so enriching to consciously be aware and to seek the treasure of finding blessings. It truly changes your mindset. I can only imagine if I were writing these thousand gifts down and saw them on paper how even more convinced and convinced I would be of God's graciousness and generosity.

Christ, in story after story, in the bible takes the bread and gives thanks. But at the last supper...that time before what we celebrate what we know as Easter, he took the bread and gave thanks. He knew what was upon him. He knew the torture and torment that was soon approaching, yet he still gave thanks. It is hard to give thanks in terrible, awful, painful, and discouraging situations, but Christ has given us an example to live by, His example. Give thanks in everything. For that is where true joy lies and peace is found.

The cover of the book has a nest on it with two little robin eggs, with two hands holding it securely; of course the eggs alone, reminded me of Easter. But going a little further on my first take on the cover, we all are feathering our nests. Some eggs (situations) are in the beginning stages while other eggs have been carefully nurtured and are hatched and in the fly away stages. It reminded me of Christ and how he holds the nests we feather in his hands. He cares for our every concern, provides for our every need, keeps us close and oversees us and protects us, encourages us and leads us. As long as we stay close to him and yearn for his hands to hold onto our lives, he will help us to find the joy that he has set before us through the blessings that he has given us. He gives us wings to fly and roots to grow and prepares us for the storms that may come and winds that may blow.All the while he holds us in his grace.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, withthanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

True gratitude is learning to be thankful in spite of circumstances, and content in what you have. " "One Thousand Gifts" beckons you to leave the parched ground of pride, fear and white knuckled control and abandon yourself to the God who overflows your cup." And be thankful! What a blessing we have in our reason for our celebration of Easter.

Dear Lord, Thank you for being ever present. Thank you for the sacrifices that were made on my account. Thank you for helping me to open my eyes and see your everyday blessings even in the midst of fog and winds and storms. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!


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