My Easter Gifts…
I’ve been wanting to read Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts for a while now and I finally downloaded it to my nook this week.
I can’t put it down.
What a beautiful, transforming way of seeing life – through a lens of thankfulness, a true “dare to live life fully right where you are.”
It’s been so powerful to actively look for the gifts in my life–each day, each hour, each minute.
Even in just the past couple days of reading, I’ve realized how much I take for granted, moment by moment.
So I started my own list today.
My own list of gifts.
And as I’ve paused to take note, to be grateful, to pay attention to the gifts God gives, I’ve been struck by how many of them are found in the bits and pieces of happiness that can so easily sneak past me, if I fail to look.
If I fail to thank…
So here’s the beginning of my one thousand gifts:
1. A mug of warm coffee, cradled in my hands.
2. My husband, who goes out of his way to bring it to me.
3. A small slice of time to read, in the early hours before the kids are awake.
4. Birthday flowers still alive on my kitchen table.
5. A lit candle, vanilla.
6. Music and sunshine filling the downstairs.
7. Butterflies hatching in our butterfly atrium.
8. A new day.
9. My son’s fingers not getting hurt in the falling bike seat.
10. Wildflowers on our walk.
11. A hug from my daughter, long.
12. Quieted emails as Easter nears…
What about you? What are you thankful for this week? This season? This Easter?
If you haven’t read One Thousand Gifts, I highly recommend it. It’s beautiful. Powerful. Life impacting. (And I’m not even done with it yet!) If you have read it, how has it impacted you?
Have a wonderful Easter, everyone! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read; I’m thankful for you.
I'm trying so hard, Genny to find things to be thankful for yet as Easter brings with it the 4 month mark of my hubby's passing, I must admit I'm finding it difficult to be grateful:(
Genny, I am part way through Ann's book. About a week ago I began intentionally looking for things for which to give thanks. With the current physical challenges I'm facing, the daily pain, the very real possibility of this being a long and difficult journey, I honestly didn't know how this would go. However, instead of just having one thing each day, I've found so many that the space allowed for Facebook status is not big enough to contain my thanks for each day. This reminds me of something Abraham Lincoln said that is quoted in the movie "Pollyanna". This is not the exact saying, bit the concept. If we look for the bad we will surely find it. The opposite is also true. If we look for the good we will find it as well. It's often about perspective. I am looking forward to seeing Ann at the "She Speaks" conference in NC this summer. She is Canadian as you probably know, and lives about 3 hours west of me. Funny, I'll go to the States to "meet" her. I'm thankful for you today Genny. Blessed Easter weekend. Because He lives,Joy
I am thankful for my 6yo going to Good Friday mass with me and not whining one bit even though we had to stand throughout the entire almost 2-hour long service (the place was packed!).
Isn't Ann's book amazing? I am so glad you are making your own gifts list. I am looking forward to being inspired by how you see the beauty all around you each day!
I love your list!I hope you had an amazing Easter weekend!