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I've been reading this book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, and it's turned into another life-changer. Here's a few of the reasons why...
She writes:
Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other.
Standing before that tree, laden with fruit withheld, we listen to Evil's murmur "In the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened..." (Genesis 3:5 NASB). But in the beginning, our eyes were already open. Our sight was perfect. Our vision let us see a world spilling with goodness. Our eyes fell on nothing but the glory of God. We saw God as He truly is: good. But we were lured by the deception that there was more to a full life, there was more to see. And, true, there was more to see: the ugliness we hadn't beheld, the sinfulness we had't witnessed, the loss we hadn't known (15, Voskamp).
In the original language, "he gave thanks," reads "eucharisteo." [...]
The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning "grace." Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be a gift and gave thanks.
But there is more, and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But is also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning "joy." [...]
Was this the clue to the quest of all most important? Deep chara joy is found only at the table of the euCHARisteo--the table of thanksgiving. I sit there long...wondering...is it that simple?
Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks? [...]
As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible (32-33, Voskamp).
Essentially, she writes how she learns the discipline of gratitude, and giving thanks through listing the gifts in her life. From the minute such as curls of cheese sprinkled on a plate, and bubbles in the sink, to the grand like the preservation of her son's hand after an accident. She learns eucharisteo, and in doing so feels the joy of God filling her life.
And so I too have begun this practice. Although, I'm afraid I'm still definitely LEARNING to be disciplined in it, because I've taken several days off; however, in the spirit of eucharisteo, and Thankful Thursday, I'd like to share some pieces of my gift list.
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| This guy right here, and all that he is. |
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| Cherry Blossoms! There's a tree right outside my house, yay :) |
43. "Life is not an emergency."
57. Sleeping in late
71. Love in my life
72. Tenderness
What's on your gift list? I encourage you to seek out the gifts in your life, take notice, and give thanks, even for the little things. (As I read over my list, a majority of my thanks are for food items...and flowers....lol). Feel free to share. I can't wait to hear how you are blessed.
I'll leave you with some words from Irving Berlin ~ "When you're worried, and you can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep, and you'll fall asleep counting your blessings." :)