Inspired by Ann at Holy Experience, I decided that this weekend I would begin inserting into my days, my life, and my blog, intentional pauses required to list One Thousand Gifts.
Ann explains her personal inspiration to begin the list:
I am daily jotting down items on my Thousand Gifts List, working, one-by-one, up to a thousand gifts. Not of gifts I want. But of gifts I have.
As the moments slip down the hour glass of time, I am scratching down the gifts—just as they happen, as they arrive, as they are unwrapped—that He has given that make my life grace, the daily graces that He gives in an infinite number of ways, that stir me.
“…windmills lazying in twilight’s last breeze…. soft wool sweaters with turtle neck collars…. the faint smell of cattle and straw….”
I am seeing things I have never seen before, atuned and aware of this constant, endless stream of gifts from His hand. I am one waking from slumber….from the stupor of indifference and ignorance. I have sight, fresh and keen—the world is new and full of His gifts.
Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don’t see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me.
It is happening to me as John Milton wrote: “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.”
Everyday epiphanies everywhere, indeed: gifts….Grace.
Every day, everywhere, good gifts are given. I want to notice, acknowledge, and preserve those gifts and start doing so in the season supposedly devoted to giving thanks. I want to be grateful for all I have been given.
As Christmas ads start flashing in my family’s faces, reminding us of all the things we don’t have, I think this practice of pausing, listing, and reflecting on what we already have will be a healthy antidote, even a weapon against consumption.
I believe it will be a step toward contentedness. In a world that feeds restlessness and desire, in a society that is rarely satisfied for long, listing One Thousand Gifts may be a gift in itself, reminding me that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17).
This is where it all begins:
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23)
1. The gift of God – eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This could take a while, listing one thousand gifts, but I don’t want to go too fast. Somehow that seems like it would defeat the purpose of a slow, deliberate, contemplative reflection on what really matters.
I’d better start paying very close attention in order to list nine-hundred ninety-nine additional gifts.
They are all around me…if I have eyes to see, and ears to hear.
This will be a gift to give to yourself all year long. What a remarkable idea! After all, the more you acknowledge through gratitude all that God has given you, the more the windows of heaven will be opened for you.
What a great idea!
It is so easy to focus on what we do not have – and be upset. How our perspcetive changes when we take the time to realize everything we do have – and to give thanks for it!
So true, Ann. To see the gifts, we need to intentionally pause. To take time to really *see.* To pay attention.
A verse from this week: Isa. 48:18: “If only you had paid attention….”
Contemplative Moms do.
And so you are.
May it be a year of attentive, mindful Thanksgiving, Ann…
Every blessing…
So beautiful. Ann is my favorite! You’ve inspired me to join in!
What a fabulous idea. I plan to start also.
This is a wonderful idea. It actually inspired me to begin thinking about some of the irony of our Thanksgiving/Christmas season here in the States.
I’m so glad to share in this idea of Ann’s with everyone else who jumps in. I’m not sure *how* I’ll go about this in the blog, but I do like that I am doing it. Period.
It also got me to thinking about putting out a notebook that the family could add their own numbers, writing out what gifts they’ve received. Even guests could add, signing their name. It seemed like a neat companion idea.
Nice blog on gifts. I love to give and take gifts. It was nice going through your blog. Keep it up the good work.