Lately, I have been focused on going back to a place where I once was. In days gone by, I feel as though I was a pretty grateful person. As the past few years have been wrought with trials and loss for our family, I think I have slowly been turning into a discontent, always waiting for the next bad thing to happen. This attitude has left me focusing more on the negatives in my life, and not nearly enough on the many...MANY blessings that God has bestowed upon me and my family.
Not long ago I came across this blog, written by Ann Voskamp. This is the kind of blog that you can't just read one article and be done. You find yourself sitting for a half hour or more, just pouring over it. Ann Voskamp is the author of a fairly new and very popular book called One Thousand Gifts. This book is much like what it sounds, a call to remember and journal the many gifts that God has given you..1000 to start with. Although I haven't read the book myself yet, I have been so convicted by the idea, and the many calls to gratefulness that you will find in her blog.
I've decided that I want to do this myself. I want to begin to journal the many blessings that God has given me, and just generally focus on them in my life. I want to remember Philippians 4:8 in my life. To think on things that are lovely, true, good, noble, praiseworthy. I decided to start a small seperate blog, and not limit myself to one thousand (or concern myself with whether I get to that number), but simply work on adding thoughts/pictures/quotes, anything that reminds me of what I have and what is good in life. If you are interested in sharing this with me, you can find my journal at www.twentyshoes@tumblr.com.
I find the more I focus on the good things, the more the bad fades into the distance, and the more I am able to tolerate the negatives in my life. I know that God will direct my paths if I acknowledge Him in everything, and remembering His gifts in my life, is one certain way to do that. I hope that if you haven't thought about this recently, you will be inspired to do the same as I have, and start journaling the gifts and the things that are good in your life. It can only make you more Christlike, and give you more joy! I'd say those are two pretty good reasons to start today!
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