The Day After

“We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to His grace.” – Ann Voskamp, 1,000 Gifts 

The quote above is from a book that has greatly shaped my life. If you have yet to pick up 1,000 Gifts, do it now. Take your time, soak it in, and you won’t regret it!
Yesterday I ate a lot of food, I told several people I am grateful for them, for this, for that. Today I cannot help but think about how we are called to practice this gratitude every single day. Why does it take a holiday filled with food (followed by a holiday filled ironically with shopping) for us to take a second to give thanks? At the same time I am grateful for a yearly reminder that I am doing it wrong. I pray every Thanksgiving that I will make the habit of gratitude better in the coming year than it was in the previous. Life is sweet. We mustn’t forget that! It may not be what we imagine, but how do we know that what the Father is doing is not shaping us into who we are called to be? The few times the Lord has given me strength to give thanks for what I felt like was a plague on my life, life has tasted sweet again. I truly believe that gratitude may not change the circumstance, but it changes our heart, and that is sweeter anyway. 

I have so much to be grateful for!

• a Heavenly Father who comforts, teaches, and leads my undeserving heart
• a family who supports, loves, and surrounds me
• health that is not always what I expect but constantly keeps my feet on the ground
• a puppy that lets me put bow ties on him
• friends who call me on their walks home from class
• breakfast dates with tender hearted girls
• the way the Lord has shaped these past couple months
• the chance to do what I love day after day
• my endless hobbies (crafting galore)
• Hallmark Christmas movies

I hope you enjoy the remainder of the Holiday season, and I pray that all of us would remember the importance of giving thanks.