Seeking His Heart
Four years ago, I read Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts. She encouraged readers to begin a journal to list 1,000 things for which you are thankful.
Easy enough, I thought. I bought a long, narrow, cute little book with lines and vowed to list one thanks a day.
I just retrieved the book and found that I had gotten to number 70. (Remember, this was four years ago—sigh.) So I’m hereby renewing my vow in front of God and all my readers to begin again a daily thanks. Two or three words a day is all it takes, Joyce!
I’ll report back next Thanksgiving.
I do believe that if we gave more emphasis to giving thanks for a friend or family member, for instance, rather than finding fault or, just as bad, taking them for granted, we would come to a greater appreciation for that person.
If I’m thinking about giving thanks for something, I have to first be aware of it. It can be as simple as looking at a clock and being thankful that I have a way to keep myself on track. I can look at a sunrise and think, “Good morning, Lord. Thanks for waking me up for another new day.”
I often thank God, as I’m driving down the road, for a car that runs well and a tank of gas to get there. I recently thanked Him for the smooth, newly-paved road.
In my little “Thanks Book,” I saw where I had listed each of the grand kids and something about their gifts or their nature for which I gave thanks.
I love giving thanks during peak seasons: new green grass and forsythia in the spring, full-grown trees and roses in the summer, lush yellows and oranges in the fall, and snow-lined trees in the winter. But November is a real challenge. I complain about how drab it is. So my goal this week is to find something worth giving thanks as I drive about this dreary month.
Speaking of dreary, one of the greatest challenges is giving thanks during those hectic times (December, for example), or those heart-breaking times, or those times when things are going so wrong.
O my strength, I sing praise to you; you, my God, are my fortress, my loving God. Psalm 59:17
He may say to you,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9
My challenge to you is to dig a little deeper in your practice of giving thanks this Thanksgiving day and on into the year to come. Best turkey wishes to you all!
~ Joyce ~
I am thankful the Lord protected you through the storm of stroke, and is using your experience to help others through your great writing! Love to read your blog.
Thanks, Tammy. I just read a few of your blogs. Great work. Keep it going!
Read your blog this Thanksgiving morning and knew I was thankful for you and your words of encouragement this busy day. Thank you for who, and all, you are.
Thanks, Sandy. So good to see you this morning.
Joyce when you suggested keeping s journal I thought it a wonderful idea. To actually put on paper a blessing would make me more aware of blessings. Well that year everyone got a skinny Vera Bradley little notebook with pen to match. Imagine my kate telling me her number of faithful days when I had not so many. Okay that’s the confession from me I started to skip days of great pain and got out of my habit. I must have forgotten in everything to be thankful. My pain is somewhat less and while still in wheelchair I am thankful that my faith has been tried and is stronger still. I pray your mother has stabilized that a bunch of grandchildren and children will gather with you and Jim to have a joyful thanksgiving. I’m back in the notebook. Thanks for reminding me. Nancy Potter
Nancy, thank you for sharing that you, too, dropped off the “thanks” wagon, but more importantly have jumped back on or, at our age, have crawled back on!
The older I get, Joyce the more often I count the blessings God has given me. We have so much to be thankful for yet how often we dwell on our difficulties instead. Thanks for the reminder Joyce. I hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks, Pat. Yes, our difficulties like to block out the blessings. It takes determination to overcome!
How is your mom?
Martha, Mom is settled in but still adjusting. That’s a challenge at 95. Thank you for your concern.
Very good, Joyce! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks, Jeris. So good to hear from you.
I was given Ann’s book for Christmas 2011 by my daughter. It impacted her and she thought it would be of value to me. It was and I faithfully counted my blessings over the years, 1014 of them at this time. I love looking back at what I wrote as it chronicles 6 years of my life, ups and downs. I am encouraging you to keep at it – place it in a handy place and it will become a lovely habit and a blessing.
Janet
Janet, thank you for your encouragement. Yes, I have my Thanks Book in a handy spot and have reinstated my daily habit of recording a thanks-a-day!
What a great challenge! I accept! It will be difficult to do anything daily for me as I often simply forget, so am going to put a reminder in my calendar! It’s so easy to take life for granted isn’t it? Thanks for the reminder!
Thanks, MJ. This morning, instead of reading my morning devotional out of “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young, I decided to write my thank you first. When I went to the devotional book (which is written as though God is speaking to you) it said, “Thanking Me awakens your heart and sharpens your mind, helping you enjoy My Presence.”