“One Thousand Gifts”

“How do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama and daily duties? What does a life of gratitude look like when your days are gritty, long and sometimes dark? What is God providing here and now?”

The first sin committed by Adam and Eve was, in part, one of ingratitude. They had been provided for by God in every way, and yet they still wanted the one thing that had been forbidden. What about us? Do we sometimes get so fixated on the things that we don’t have, that we fail to open our eyes to all the gifts that our Heavenly Father showers upon us every day?

The antidote to ingratitude in “eucharisteo” – to express gratitude. This was something that Jesus did frequently and something that God calls us to do as well.

“…Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5v20

The danger is that slapping a careless brush of thankfulness over everything in our lives can leave us deeply thankful for actually very few things. So, here’s the challenge: can you write a list of “one thousand gifts”? This is how my list starts:

  1. The sound of rain falling on the roof
  2. Thick carpets of autumn leaves
  3. Listening to the birds singing
  4. Bright sunshine on cold morning

It’s a dare to live fully, right where you are!

“One Thousand Gifts” is a book by Ann Voskamp