The question was raised in my book study of One Thousand Gifts last week ... of what is the point of listing small things that we are thankful for like the green leaves of spring. I don't remember who asked it, but I think she and others were wrestling with the larger question of how to be thankful in the midst of life's larger trials and what relevance these small things had. Why should we fill a list of 1000 things we are thankful for with seemingly insignificant things? How can we be thankful for the hard things?
Eucharisteo - grace, joy, thanksgiving
As I pondered this, several things came to mind.
Thankfulness is a discipline. Being thankful in the small things teaches us how to be thankful in all things.
Thankfulness is a habit - and habits take practice.
Noticing these seemingly small things, puts God in perspective and teaches us to reverence our Creator.
Noticing helps us to "be here now" to live fully. It allows us to experience life in new ways.
I think that as we develop this discipline, we grow closer to being able to trust and thank God in all circumstances.
Being thankful brings us deeper into relationship with God.
I think God is delighted when we give thanks in big and small things.
As Maria sings in The Sound of Music:
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles with warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things
The picture is the view I enjoyed yesterday as I worked at our annual golf tournament.
- Thankful for a day outdoors
- Thankful for good weather
- Thankful for time to enjoy God's beautiful creation
- Thankful for the hawk overhead
- Thankful for the sunshine and the breeze
- Thankful for the people I met
- Thankful for the team of people I work with
- Thankful for filet mignon for dinner
- Thankful for my health
- Thankful for women on the journey studying together
#1000Gifts
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