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| {early morning light in my daughter’s bedroom} |
For the last few months I have been on a personal journey. I’ve realized this is the only real ‘goal’ I want to carry forward going into the new year. Not because I don’t want to accomplish other things or better myself but because this one thing has the power and capacity to be the catalyst for everything else. I have already seen it beginning to change me. It feels good!
And I want more.
Giving thanks, thanksgiving, eucharisteo.
Ann Voskamp writes, in One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
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| {Matching colorful wooden mice to their families and home} |
I’ve begun keeping a gratitude journal, numbering the daily gifts from God. President Henry B. Eyring has been keeping a gratitude journal for years. He would write a few lines every single night. Of this experience he shared, “Before I would write, I would ponder this question: “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done.
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| {kneaded with lots of love} |
This one question “Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?” is powerful. The answers even more so. Why?
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Naming the blessings helps us see ourselves and those around us as God sees us. Giving thanks, counting my blessings, has changed my perspective, my focus. I no longer look inward. My eyes are drawn outward, upward to God. In that drawing I am able to see the needs of others around me. In my limited realm of experience I have learned that in giving thanks I want to give. How can I not when I see how much I have truly been blessed? It is a natural God-intended consequence.
Giving thanks, thanksgiving, eucharisteo.
It is changing my life.
P.S. I will be chronicling some of my daily gifts through pictures on my photography blog, Montserrat Photography. Come, feast with me.
P.P.S. This post is a re-written one of a guest post I did for Carrie at All That is Sweet in Life.
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This is wonderful! Although, I think you are already one of the most thoughtful and gratitude- filled people I know. You have uplifted so many through your blog and emails alone! I am very grateful for all you do.
One of my all time favorite talks. FANTASTIC photos and great post.
What a great and usable resolution! Thanks for the uplifting post. It’s certainly making me think….
This is so beautiful. Thank you!
I read this book early last year and have been amazed at how my life has changed as I sought for and found gratitude in everything. It’s a great journey!
I wonder if the root of the word charity also comes fom the greek root “chara”. I have been trying to focus on increasing my charity and reading your post i realized that the same things that result from being grateful, the desire to want to give and feelings of abundance, are also components of charity. I have tried to keep a gratitude journal befor but did do so well, maybe i will give it anoher try. This was a beautiful post.
I love this idea and can’t wait to implement it. Thank you so much for sharing.
New WORD!!!! You are attempting to make me smarter.
I love gratitude. I need to follow your journaling council.
This idea is beautiful, thank you for sharing. I’m going to print these out for the girls in my church small group.
I also loved the wooden mouse matching game in the picture above. Do you know who makes it/anything about it? I’d like to track one down for my son.
Thanks!
@Kate – my mother-in-law bought them from Constructive Playthings. She says they go on sale every four months or so.
Mouse Matching at Constructive Playthings
Yes, this is so true. I wrote something similar today.
Warm wishes,
Tonya