I'm Still Thankful
I love these thankful lists I see posted all over the blog world. We are noticing things once hidden under our errands, calendar and carpool. We are seeing the beauty God gifts us with everyday all around us from a stack of clean, folded laundry to the loved one saying “yes” to Jesus. Some of us are giving gratitude for things we’ve taken for granted far too long. That would be me.
Sharing parts of my list here is strong motivation to keep it up but what I was finding some weeks was a BLANK page. I would then look back over my week {my calendar and my pictures} and think of what happened for which I could be thankful. So, for about an hour, I would feel grateful. That would be a good, happy hour, for sure.
But I was missing that “good” on a daily basis, in the moment experience of gratitude. So was my family. My list wasn’t working. A weekly list was never the intention, but that is what I had chosen by not choosing the mindset of thankfulness in everything, all day.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Reboot. I was far from overflowing.
Mid summer, I grabbed a notebook to leave on the kitchen counter and that is where the work is done. I am reminded. In the midst of overseeing school assignments, sweeping, cooking, walking from here to there, setting the table, redirecting children, talking on the phone... I see it all day long. And it reminds me to stop. To stop just moving from one thing to the next but to stop in my thoughts and be grateful that he just finished up his math without breaking 5 pencil points, be thankful that she cleared his dishes from the table too, be grateful for kind words flying across the room.... to stop and look. This, I had forgotten to do. For me, once a week wasn’t often enough.
I still have difficulty writing down the “hard” thanksgiving. The stuff that reminds me that there is an end of me. And I should have handed it over a long time ago. The stuff that can change who we are. You know. What keeps us up at night. I know this to be hard work. Seems like wallowing in it is easier than being grateful for it. I must remind myself of the good news.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Not lacking anything. I like that.
Here are my thankful highlights from the summer and from the notebook on the counter. May looking for the gifts be constant ~ grace, joy, thanksgiving ~ eucharisteo.
Sharing parts of my list here is strong motivation to keep it up but what I was finding some weeks was a BLANK page. I would then look back over my week {my calendar and my pictures} and think of what happened for which I could be thankful. So, for about an hour, I would feel grateful. That would be a good, happy hour, for sure.
But I was missing that “good” on a daily basis, in the moment experience of gratitude. So was my family. My list wasn’t working. A weekly list was never the intention, but that is what I had chosen by not choosing the mindset of thankfulness in everything, all day.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7
Reboot. I was far from overflowing.
Mid summer, I grabbed a notebook to leave on the kitchen counter and that is where the work is done. I am reminded. In the midst of overseeing school assignments, sweeping, cooking, walking from here to there, setting the table, redirecting children, talking on the phone... I see it all day long. And it reminds me to stop. To stop just moving from one thing to the next but to stop in my thoughts and be grateful that he just finished up his math without breaking 5 pencil points, be thankful that she cleared his dishes from the table too, be grateful for kind words flying across the room.... to stop and look. This, I had forgotten to do. For me, once a week wasn’t often enough.
I still have difficulty writing down the “hard” thanksgiving. The stuff that reminds me that there is an end of me. And I should have handed it over a long time ago. The stuff that can change who we are. You know. What keeps us up at night. I know this to be hard work. Seems like wallowing in it is easier than being grateful for it. I must remind myself of the good news.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
Not lacking anything. I like that.
Here are my thankful highlights from the summer and from the notebook on the counter. May looking for the gifts be constant ~ grace, joy, thanksgiving ~ eucharisteo.
God's provisions for Tarrant NET's Read2Win literacy program
Christy's prayers
time with Janina
borrowed books on CD's
that B still says really funny things
old friends surprising us
Joanna, going above and beyond for me..... still
EMILY'S HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Camp Calico {I will be grateful ANY time some Jesus loving teenagers want to hang out with my daughter.}
thank you notes under my pillow
Denise
the music that will remind us of this summer
Championship Swim Meet INDOORS {made their year}
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| She even smiles when she swims. |
hearing B say to Jeff, "You are the best man I know."
first vision casting dinner for Watermark Fort Worth {!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!} Something is really happening!
new Wednesday sitter- Katherine
family date night
that my Mom is doing so much better
that our windowseat gets used every school day
parenting changing conversations with the Brandons and Carmyn
Julia getting to work on a school project with a friend
and a day to have a little fun too-- Grateful for this friendship.
a road trip to UT for Jeff and B and time with the Hargroves
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| And yes, he got a haircut. I now know, that I like it both ways. ; ) |
that Julia's hair still curls up within minutes in the ocean air
nephew's gifts being affirmed by being published in Clubhouse magazine {surprised kids on road trip}
books that challenge me
Julia all to myself
that he still sounds little on the phone
my Mom's group
that I get to try this thankfulness again
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