1,000 Gifts

I recently came across the blogs of two members of my Seattle church that have been so inspiring and encouraging for me to read. Both Susan and Kimberlee wrote this past month about cultivating and practicing thankfulness in our lives, and I thought I'd share those with you. As I read, I realized they were both talking about a community of people and bloggers out there who are intentional about practicing the spiritual discipline of gratitude. They explained that the practice was simple--it was all about making a list of things you are thankful for and actually thanking God for them. I have done bits and pieces of this in the past, but usually fairly sporadic. What I like about this practice, however, is that it forces us to be aware of and recognize the tiny things in life that are so simple and so beautiful. It forces us to remember to thank God for the laughter of a child wafting through the open window, or the sight of a neighbor's beautifully kept rose garden. Susan wrote that "intentional looking leads to seeing more and more of what would have been unnoticed." I decided a few weeks that one of my disciplines for 2010 was to participate in this Gratitude Community. You can do this in a number of ways--by listing a few items each day, or creating space to make a longer list once a week. Several people who have done this have taken the time to create beautiful gratitude journals that are truly pieces of art, however I simply picked up my gratitude journal a friend gave me years ago and started a new page. Each week I'll share a few of the things I listed that week with all of you. In a season where there is so much chaos, confusion, and pain on the nightly news, I wonder what would happen if we all stopped for a few minutes and attended more deeply to the small delights around us?

My list with the actual numbers on it is at home but here are a few of the small gifts I am thanking God for this month:

Time this week to catch up on so many unfinished projects

My beautiful new baby niece is now 3 months old and perfectly healthy

Savoring a mocha in a Portland coffee shop with my best friend

Getting completely lost in Dan Brown's latest book--a book that was purely fluff and entertainment!

Seeing Christmas card photos of friends and family members who I only get to hear from once a year.

A friend's courage and honesty with me.

My husband ignoring his alarm clock today in order to spend an extra hour snuggled up next to me

The fun and ridiculousness that is the TV show Glee

The opportunity to share my testimony with the youth in a few weeks.

A chance to interview with and hear about the children's ministry program at a church here in this area.

My new 2010 day planner that I am kind of in love with.

Jesus, thank you for these gifts, and the many more we are unaware of in our lives.