Grace

Grace comes into the soul, as the morning sun into the world; first a dawning; then a light; 

and at last the sun in his full and excellent brightness.

Thomas Adams

I read this quote from Thomas Adams on the blog Barnstorming this morning

and promptly wrote it down in my gratitude journal. 

I am grateful for grace, 

for these words of Thomas Adams, though I don't know who he is,

for the turning of the earth, 

for the changing of the seasons, 

for the rising and setting of the sun, 

for the clouds breaking up after a long day of rain,

for the marvel of the universe.

"A practice of the eyes"

“Gratitude for the seemingly insignificant—a seed—this plants the giant miracle.” 

“...life change comes when we receive life with thanks and ask for nothing to change.” 

“The practice of giving thanks...eucharisteo...this is the way we practice the presence of God, 

stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes. 

We don't have to change what we see. Only the way we see.”

Ann Voskamp

I recently read Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts and was moved and inspired by it in so many ways.  The book is currently #4 in its category on the New York Times bestseller list .   

The video below is a trailer of sorts for the book.

This is a book to read and re-read - to highlight and mark up and quote from, to download to 

your e-reader, to share with friends.  

The book reminded me of  why I started this blog, but it also showed me that what I have been trying to do has only touched the surface of what giving thanks means.  

As Ann Voskamp says, 

“Eucharisteo—thanksgiving—always precedes the miracle.” 

 Giving thanks - it seems simple and easy.  In reality it means changing the way you see.  It means changing your life minute by minute, day by day.  It requires patience and practice.  

 

Here are a few of the things I've listed in my gratitude journal this month:

Warm shower, hot coffee

A hug from my brother

Deja Vu at the pool with Sy

A good long run

Home with my love

Walking into a warm house on a cold night

Crocuses lined up by the walkway

JH's smile, G's batman cape

Glorious, glorious sunset

Bird song in the morning

Sharing a meal with a friend

A full moon through the trees

A good long run

Happy faces and excitement at the park with M & E

Heated car seats on a cold morning

Holy Communion

An afternoon nap and a good book

Tulips on Valentine's Day

Champagne with dinner

Gentle rain

Budding forsythia

Origin of EUCHARIST

Middle English eukarist, from Anglo-French eukariste, from Late Latin eucharistia, from Greek, Eucharist, gratitude, from eucharistos grateful, from eu- + charizesthai to show favor, from charis favor, grace, gratitude; akin to Greekchairein to rejoice — more at yearn

First Known Use: 14th century

from Merriam Webster dictionary

A blessing on the interstate

My eyes followed the sunset as we drove the interstate Friday evening.  It played tag through the trees, hid behind the hills, darted out of sight.  But then there it was, straight ahead.  A blessing to end the day.