I’ve still been reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts a bit at a time, trying to absorb it. It strikes me as a little like dark chocolate—I can only take a bit at a time, savoring and trying to grasp the richness, both of her prose and of the ideas therein. She does rather make you look at life in a different way—if I could just remember to after I put the book down. I’ll have to try to do a review of it here, once I finally finish reading.
But one thing I’ve been thinking about, indicated in the title, is how Ann learned, and reminds us to learn, to open our eyes to God’s gifts all around us. In “good” times and hard, He scatters so many blessings through our days—and so many times I hardly notice them or quickly forget. So here—as Ann did, scribbling gifts on scraps of paper as she went about her days of homeschooling and dishwashing and farm-wifing, and child-raising—I begin my own list of His gifts…
~ Warm October days and crisp fallish nights.
~ A family game night, lighted with laughter and the flickering flames in the fireplace.
~ A serendipitous sunset over the ocean, golden ball sinking in a glory of rose and orange into the sparkling blue.
~ Dinner with friends, seeing my own family and my “Navajo family” finally get to meet each other.
~ A season to rest.
~ Reading Les Miserables.
~ Answered prayer in our theater company.
~ Watching my sister delight in writing a story.
~ Getting to know the characters for my own next story.
~ A loving and almighty God to turn to for East Coast friends in danger from Hurricane Sandy.
~ This Halloween week—that the Light is stronger than the darkness.
~ Knowing that Gomie is safe and well in the presence of Jesus, and we needn’t grieve for her.
~ The little thrill of anticipation that Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming!
What would your “list” be?
My list . . .
Writing “The End” almost within my original desired time frame, when I thought that would be impossible.
Healthy family
Weekly ladies’ Bible study
Heat—when it’s 0 degrees or colder outside.
Writing friends with whom I can share so much more than writing.
And many more. Like you said, it’s just a beginning 🙂
Love your list, Sarah. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!