Gratitude has really transformed my heart this year. A new awareness to all God has given me in and through his Son. Gifts upon the GIFT. And in my heart springs a new tenderness to my Father, as I grow in trust of his. good. heart.
I am putting gratitude into practice in new ways this week. Gratitude is pushing me in an area where I feel disappointment. Yes, it's true there are ways which this area of my life is less than I want it to be...but OH! as I intentionally give thanks, I realize there's so much generosity from my Father in this area as well. Gratitude, once again, is showing itself to be the means for renewing my perspective on my circumstances. GRATEFUL for the command to give thanks in all circumstances. Our God knows what he's talking about!
On that note...I've been giving thanks for small things this week related to my senses.
The smell of the dentist office. Not that I love the smell but it represents that I go there enough to know the smell and that I can afford to have my teeth cared for. Oh how lavish our life is.
The smell of a shoe store. It hit me as I walked in this week. Thankful for shoes and for money to buy them.
The familiar sound of my bread machine running all afternoon bringing back memories of a former life where bread baked and quiet Xiao Li's voice could be heard singing along to Chinese praise songs flowing from my living room.
The taste of homemade soup, not quite ready, on the stove.
The sight of fall decorations on my table. Though it's hot outside, all things cozy are going on as we pretend fall.
The feeling of soft baby cheeks kissed as I put him down for his long nap, one of those I-have-a-cold- and-will-sleep-all-afternoon kind of naps.
The feeling of hot tears burning as I said goodbye to Elpis, our foster dog. A love has grown in my heart for that little guy that I wasn't sure was possible. I love an animal.
Turns out these small things are really the big things...they are much more than the sound and the taste and the sight...they are about the heart. About love between this mama and her child. About deep memories of gifts from the past. About humbling in my spirit, as I see that my God is a provider. They are about transformation...God making me a person who can overflow with love for even the littlest of his creation. Gratitude is opening up the eyes of my heart to see the important things in life going on in invisible realm, between me and God and between me and my people. Turns out gratitude in the little things in really about the big things.
1 comment:
Indeed they are. Thank you for that blog, I need to be reminded to see, smell & feel this life. God is good - -always!
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