I am reading the book One Thousand Gifts A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. It is changing me. I am so thankful for that. The reading of it, the embracing of it & God using it is bringing joy back into my life that hasn't been there for a long, long time. In the book, Ann dares us to find the abundant life that God wants us to have & that we can have right now..right where we are.
I saw a little blurb of an interview Ann had & the interviewer asked if it was like being a Pollyanna ( I paraphrased the question as I can't remember the exact words.). I remember as a child loving Pollyanna & being criticzed for having what they called a Pollyanna outlook. I think even then it wasn't Pollyanna outlook, it truly was seeing all the wonderful things I was blessed with all the time. Somewhere along the line I lost that of always being thankful. Somewhere along the line it became a woe is me...and I didn't even realize it.
I wish I had Ann's gifts for words. I know I am not doing the book justice. I highly would encourage everyone to read the book. Anyway, in her challenge it wasn't just to be thankful but to actually write it down. I started doing that...I think I got to about #6. So, I'm going to attempt to start over & post many of them here ( if not all)
#1 A sick hubby who makes me dinner because he said I looked tired.
#2 The giggles of baby girl as she runs thru the house while I chase her wearing the bear outfit she put on me.
#3 An adult son who shows grace & compassion even when he has been hurt.
#4 The 9 yr old smiling sweetly at me even when I've been grumpy with him.
#5 The opportunity to be with my mom even as I see her declining rapidly.
Ann has asked anyone who blogs their list to please put a button here...as of yet I haven't figured out how to do it. If anyone who reads this knows how, I would love to hear from you so I could do as Ann has requested.
