Pivotal Gratitude

Not long ago I read the book, One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. That book was pivotal in my life. Pivotal does not need to be a 180-degree turn. I didn't need a 180° turn. I needed a life-changing tweak. Pivotal can simply be a tiny pivot of maybe 2ﾟ. If you draw on paper an angle of 2ﾟ and then extend the lines out a few miles, after awhile they're very far away from each other. The same goes for a pivotal change in your life even if it's a tiny change (and believe me I needed a change in my life).

Philippians 2:14 says, “Do all things without grumbling…” As much as I come across as being a pretty positive person, I have certainly done my fair share of grumbling and whining. If you haven't heard it or seen it, it was often going on in my mind. My husband certainly saw and heard it, poor guy. I have always considered myself to be a very upbeat person. And I was doing pretty good in the area of showing gratitude to God for His attributes and for the amazing things He has done. But I caught myself whining and complaining about numerous small things throughout every day. I'd get out of bed in the morning and grumble. I often had almost a sense of dread inside. I wasn't at all excited about beginning my day.

And then things started to change. The verse, "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.” (Psalm 86:11,12) became a daily morning prayer of mine and it changed my outlook. I looked for ways every day that God was teaching me His way and directing my thoughts into His truth. I looked for how He was guiding my steps to follow in His path. 

But then I read Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts, and my eyes were opened in a new way! God's word tells us many times to be thankful. He often tells us to be thankful in all things. The book, One Thousand Gifts, caused me to see that command on a completely different level. If you try to write down 1000 things you're thankful for, it is amazing how that will open your eyes to all the little blessings you have throughout every single day. 

A warm cup of coffee. 

The ability to walk across a room without pain because there was a time that I couldn't do that.

The privilege of flipping a light switch and having the lights turn on because there was a period of time during an ice storm (thirteen very long days) that we had no electricity.

The privilege of turning on a faucet and getting good clean water to drink and warm water to take a shower because many people throughout the world don't have that. 

Every single person in my life that loves me and allows me to love them back. 

The privilege of my car; that I can turn a key and have heat or air conditioning and I can drive it wherever I want to. 

The taste of food. The fact that I get a variety of yummy tastes every day. 

The fact that I get to simply swing my legs out of bed and stand up every morning. Something that Joni Eareckson Tada cannot do and has not been able to do for almost 50 years because of paralysis from a diving accident.

The fact that I have access to a Bible and I don't have to hide it or be in fear when I read it or talk about it. The fact that I get to go to a really good church filled with amazing people and listen to a pastor who preaches the truth of God's word.

The wind in my face. The warmth of the sun. The smell of flowers in the spring.

The feeling of soft clothing against my skin.

The ability to take a deep breath.

The sounds of birds singing and the voices of my loved ones. 

Snow drifting quietly down. 

Good music. 

Kind faces. 

Smiles. 

Hugs.

What difference has this made in my life? It started as a mental discipline. I forced myself to start paying attention to all the things that I should be thankful for. And I took that discipline one step further. I wrote it down in a little book. In her book, Ann Voskamp asked us to do just that. Write it down. 1000 things you are grateful for. It’s work. But it can change your life.

 Over time I was amazed at how attentive I was to all the little gifts that God gives to me every single day, even every moment, that I used to be blind to. God literally opened my eyes to his small gifts. What an affront to God it must be to have Him continually give us good things and have us spurn them.

 Over time I began to be filled with a new delight in every day. My joy grew by leaps and bounds. I can't even begin to express the difference this has made in my life. What started as a simple discipline of paying attention to the little things and writing them down has turned into a new awareness of the awesome gifts God has put right in front of me and that I can no longer ignore.

There's no end to what I can be thankful for. There's no end to what you can be thankful for. No matter what stage of life you're in or what you're experiencing, there is something good happening. 

Pay attention to it! 

Enjoy it! 

Thank God for it!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. (1 Chronicles 16:34)

I will praise the name of God with song and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30)