Several influences over the past months have encouraged me to count blessings more and learn to live a life of thankfulness.
Probably the main influence is Ann Voskamp in her blog, where she writes so much of what it looks like to lead with gratitude. Here are a few select posts on the topic. Also, a few brief quotes…
How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?”
~Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
Joy is the fruit of gratefulness. ~ Ann Voskamp
No one receives the peace of God without giving thanks to God.
Thankfulness is the deep, contented breath of Peacefulness. ~Ann Voskamp
I also was encouraged by a friend to keep a daily thankfulness journal, which not surprisingly has changed my perspective on how to be thankful, even when at first glance my day seems crummy. God does not forsake us, and we can often see glimpses of His goodness, His teaching and humbling us, and the little bits of grace for the common good He provides.
Some of my recent thanksgivings:
– a medical scare with my mom that turned out to be okay
– my cute orange coffee mug that is sunshine in the morning
– an impromptu lunch with a friend at work on a crummy day and the comfort of being with a friend who allows you let your guard down
– celebrating with a friend in expectation of her and her husband’s adoption of their first child
– after busting my ear on the cab door and somehow ripping out my earring, finding my earring on the street before the honking cars behind me got too angry (HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?)
– being thankful for my dad on his birthday and upcoming Father’s Day
– having a job where I can work on a team of spirited, bright, kind people
– an unexpected pause this morning for a nice conversation on the couch with Jon; specific answered prayers about our continual growth as individuals and a married unit
– not minding the metro delay yesterday because I had a good new book to read (Robinson Crusoe)
– teaching a little girl violin and her actually still wanting to have lessons, even after I laid the smack down for not practicing enough (to all my previous teachers out there: I’m so sorry!! I probably drove you nuts.)
– conflicts that remind me to lean on Jesus all the time
I definitely cannot say my mind always goes to thankfulness first, but even attempting to go in this direction has been a blessing in itself.
Think I’ll try that–in writing. A friend just gave 3 of us who have turned 60 in the past few months a journal. Great way to use it! 🙂