1,000 Gifts

My sister, literally a world away, sent me a wonderful book at Christmas. It is called One Thousand Gifts, by A. Voskamp. I picked it up a few days ago when I was feeling as if God hadn't given me any gifts lately. Within the first few pages I realized how truly wrong I was, and just how much ingratitude was affecting my outlook on life.

It has been a difficult season for us. God has filled us with an overwhelming desire to raise more children, to save them from a worse fate. But door after door has closed in our desire to do this. We are now walking down a different path, still to this desire and we need a big miracle. Just now, when in doubt of any miracles, this book became a beacon for me. One statement...

"thanksgiving precedes the miracle"

Think of the life of Jesus, his greatest works and miracles. Read the stories. Thanksgiving precedes the miracle. Before calling Lazarus from the dead, Jesus thanks his Father. Before feeding the multitudes, He thanks his Father. Before his last supper, his darkest hour, He thanks his Father.

How many miracles have I missed in my life because I am ungrateful? How have I miss living my life to the fullest of God's presence in me, because I am ungrateful? I truly have over a thousand things to be grateful for. During this time, this season of sacrifice and hope, I need to be thankful so I do not miss the miracle.