And she's over 1000 and still counting!
Monica from Know-Love-Obey God guest posts here today to share what she's discovered as part of the Gratitude Community and her journey of counting now over 1000 blessings. Last spring, Monica invited me to fly out to Colorado to speak at a women's retreat on the discipline of journaling and I had the privilege and joy of spending 48 wondrous hours with this beautiful woman of the Lord who emanates Jesus Joy (oh, if you could hear her glorious laugh!), who teaches from His Word with heart-breaking passion... who writes His gentle truth in poetry, in wisdom, in grace. It's humble gift to call this gifted woman friend... and sit with you today and listen to what Jesus has breathed into her life.
M
y mind was too small. I expected this new habit would make me a more thankful person, but how meager were my expectations compared to His overflowing reality. God is much more than I know.
How like our generous Father to bless as I count the blessings! Well before I reached 1000, God began to teach me. Here is my journey in gratitude, my Lessons from a Thousand...
Because I knew people with coin collections, I became mildly interested in coins. When I happened upon something unusual---the occasional silver dollar or foreign coin---I took notice. But not long after, I forgot the special coins I had seen. I did not remember a single detail---not even one.
The common quarters and nickels passed from my fingers to the parking meter or coin purse without a second glance. Those were just everyday pocket change, and I almost thought of them with disdain. They, even more quickly than the "special" coins, were forgotten.
Then I began to pay more attention to the coin enthusiasts. How carefully and joyfully they gathered their coins! Their habit attracted me.
I began a coin collection of my own.
From an e-mail to Ann Voskamp, June 9, 2009 (when I decided to join the Gratitude Community):
Sign me up. I added an Endless Gifts page, finally making it 'official'---it really does make a difference writing it down vs. just taking mental note of things I'm thankful for... (because I've already *forgotten* so many of the things I've thanked God for but didn't write down...)
The decision now made, I took the coins more seriously. I did much more than merely take a quick glance at each coin. I numbered and labeled every coin I added to the collection, beginning with coins that had already been in my pocket for a while.
My "Endless Gifts" gratitude list:
1. Head-filling scent of plumeria.
2. Snorkeling with honu.
3. The blue-green-black of Maui.
4. The red-green-blue-white of Colorado Springs.
I thanked God for His gifts given to me months, even years, previously. Retroactive gratitude causes me to remember His blessings and keep my eyes on the Giver.
The more coins I collected, the more fun I had playing with them! Sometimes I sorted them carefully, picking out only the silver coins . . .
As my gratitude list grew, I decided to explore it. Because I keep it on the computer, I could do searches! For example:
Partial search results for "husband" in my gratitude list:
6. Crow's feet lines in husband's smiling eyes.
96. Hot cocoa to take to cold husband working in garage.
206. Husband's opportunity to relax with friends (guys' game night).
394. Husband's really good biscuits.
643. Husband who's creating an amazing astronomy course for our 6th grader.
998. Husband's informed, thoughtful, unhurried decision-making.
I saw how many times my husband appeared in my list and realized that keeping a numbered gratitude list prevents me from taking everyday blessings (like the given, lifelong commitment of marriage) for granted.
Other times I sorted differently, picking out the copper coins . . .
Partial search results for "car" in my gratitude list:
339. No car damage from the hail.
644. Car that works.
741. A working car.
784. The car works.
808. A working car.
892. Car that gets >30 mpg (city).
I did this search after losing our only car and learned that redundant gratitude protects me from an attitude of entitlement.
Sometimes I just scooped up the coins and let the whole lot fall tinkling through my fingers . . .
Random selection from my gratitude list:
13. A good pen.
42. Being trusted to confidentiality.
72. Toothpaste and dental floss.
530. Olathe sweet corn.
531. Friends' reading recommendations.
654. SPAM filters.
816. Psalm 46.
893. Support for the suffering in the Body of Christ.
976. The beauty of the details in the Bible.
991. My brother is coming for Christmas!!!
I look through the whole list and see the wide range of God's blessings to me---everything great and small, touching every part of my life. His gifts are varied and creative, common and rare.
Sometimes I would choose just one coin and take a good, long look. I looked at the intricacies of one side, then the other, then the edge. I smiled in remembrance of the story behind it, how I acquired that one coin, how it continues to bless me...
I looked through my gratitude list, chose just one item, and allowed myself to dwell on it:
521. Fifteen years of marriage, upheld, sustained, and strenghtened by God.
I allowed different scenes of our marriage to pass before me---beginnings, conversations, rough and rocky spots, growing points, changes, exhilarating moments---and learned that gratitude strengthens love.
To number God's gifts is to collect His graces. Now, as a Grace-Enthusiast and an avid Grace-Collector, I consider each gift a treasure. My collection builds, increasing in value with each item.
I have learned much from intentional, systematic gratitude.
Lessons from a Thousand
(What I Learned from Numbering His Gifts):
1. Gratitude in Community is Gratitude AMPLIFIED.
2. Retroactive gratitude causes me to remember His blessings, and I should give thanks for things past.
3. Gratitude prevents me from taking everyday blessings for granted.
4. (Similar to 3.) Redundant gratitude protects me from an attitude of entitlement.
5. Gratitude shows me the wide range of God's blessings to me.
6. Gratitude strenghtens love and relationships.
This, I'm sure, is just a small portion of what He will continue to teach me.
And so, I will keep counting . . .
Want to drink the joy elixir? Become a Joy Finder? Consider joining the Gratitude Community -- just jump in with your own counting!
How to begin your own 1000 Gift List ::: How Gratitude Can Change your Life
( Drop me a line if choose to begin giving intentional thanks and gather fresh joy and I will happily add either your name or a web link to the Gratitude Community I'm slowly getting caught up on meeting all you beautiful folks who have joined the Gratitude Community. Thank you for your kind grace and patience! I'm so looking forward to meeting you all soon!)
Photos: By Monica
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