I am back! Where have I been? I am ashamed to say, not far at all!
I let my voice grow quiet for a while, dealing with losses too many to count, allowing situations
to get the better of me and not relying on God's strength the way I should have.
That brings me to last Spring, where as the flowers and trees were renewing with life, a
wonderful friend put a book into my hands that has forever changed my life!
'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp ~ a dare to live fully right where you are!
A challenging title and an even more challenging read ~ definitely not for the faint of heart.
Many nights I found myself weeping at the raw and real writing of this amazing lady.
Getting on the phone late at night just to thank my friend for sending that book to me, for
seeing that I needed it ~for being a friend!
And so began my quest to name 'the gifts' ~ sounds tricky? Not at all ~ look around you! There
are gifts everywhere, surrounding us! And so, I have taken the 'Joy Dare!' Finding and
recording the gifts of grace that are around me everyday but that it up to me to see!
Oh, how many gifts have I let slip away because I didn't want to recognize them as gifts! How
petty and selfish to think only of material things instead of those things that surround me from day to day!
And so... the journey has begun and I continue it ... daily seeing His goodness all around me and
pleading with Him that as He shows me these gifts that I will give all thanks to Him! None of
these things are of my own hand ~ only of His! How amazing is that!
So....here is my question to you ... will you take the dare? Will you number the gifts that
surround you each day? I can promise you one thing for sure ... your life will never be the same once you start!!!
~ hearing my girls say 'my dad is such a great man!'
~ seeing my man get the girls all bundled up to go skating ~ never to busy to spend time!
~ living in an area that sees all 4 beautiful seasons ~ my girls know how to swim in the lake in the
summer and skate on it in the winter!
~ for His marvelous handiwork seen in the dancing snowflakes and frosty trees! Only He could
do that!
Number these gifts of grace with us ~ will you?
I just want to tell you that one of my daily gifts is the joy of your friendship. You are a strong woman of faith who lives her life gracefully. You are much too hard in yourself, and I do not believe for one second that your vulnerability, sadness and questioning has been unjust. In fact, often, it is in the darkest times that we are closest to our God. I love you homeschooling Mom! For all that you are, for all that God has created you to be, and for the faithful, inspiring woman that you are!
ReplyDeleteLove you,
~L
OH HALLELUJAH SISTER~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ReplyDeletelet's keep counting....and make it a lifelong act of worship!!!!..
Thank you for coming back to life in blogville..
already, i cherish each post you'll write..because i know they'll be a reflection of His incredible, astounding work of grace in your life.
I echo Lala's comment. You are a gift to me. a constant one.
ox