The God Who created, names, and numbers the stars in the heavens also numbers the hairs of my head… He pays attention to very big things and to very small ones. What matters to me matters to Him, and that changes my life. – Elisabeth Elliot

March, 2011. My sister challenged me to text her every day with three things for which to be grateful. She would do the same. It helped us both to think about the wonderful things in our lives, superficial or extremely important and life-changing. I would text her first thing in the morning on my pre-dawn walks, sometimes needing to walk in the middle of the deserted street so I wouldn’t run into a vehicle parked on the street. And before I returned home, she had usually texted me back on her way to or from her exercise class. That is how this started. Three things. Every day.

Of course, I am an overachiever in some areas. My gratefulness cannot be condensed into three things each day. And my text message could not be limited to just Angela, so I added the few people around me who supported me with daily encouragement, and then it just began to grow so much that my thumbs couldn’t keep up. I moved to emails until Google no longer supported my efforts and labeled me “spam.” I was offended but not so much as to cancel my membership in their club.

I decided that gratefulness works in my life, in my heart, in my mind, and I grow closer and closer to my Lord as I count every single blessing that comes to mind each day, so I welcomed WordPress and what you are reading is my personal journey journal that keeps me accountable to thank God for the privilege of living this life and thank him for ALL things, one by one. I try not to repeat, but some things just keep coming to mind, so I continue to thank Him for them.

Read if you want, ignore if you don’t want. But I hope that you will stop for a minute and think of just three things that are often overlooked but make you smile or make your world a little more beautiful, and say, “Thank you, God.”

I am grateful for a shoulder rub.

I am grateful that my brain is not always serious. This morning, I walked into the office building, and a rabbit hopped across the parking lot in front of me. It made me want to name him. So, I named him Bunny Foo Foo in memory of my Texas grandchildren. And then I thought his name should be Peter. And then I thought, “No, Bugs.” And then it was Roger. Or it could be Thumper. Maybe Trix. Finally, I settled on VW. Yeah, that’s it. VW.  Short for Volkswagen Rabbit. I know. I have issues.

I am grateful for Seinfeld clips.

I am grateful that my egg stopped on the padded chair and didn’t roll onto the floor and splat.

I heard TWO SEASONED METEOROLOGISTS say “more cooler” in less than 12 hours. What in the world. I am grateful that I am not a TV personality speaking such horror.

I am grateful that I am in “grandparenthood” season, not in “raising kids” season.

I am grateful to be a list maker. Not always a list crosser-offer, but at least I begin the process.

I am grateful that I have finally learned that people who know me as a Christian most likely know my political leaning by what I say, what I post, what my attitude is towards my President and other leaders, what my attitude is towards political and social issues, and if I am truly going to live a godly life and DO love, I must do it in all aspects of my life – I must refrain from passing on negative emails and posts, and instead, I must follow Jesus’ example and love one another, love my “neighbor” as much as I love myself. The world is not going to get better, but MY world can be better and I can choose to brighten a day rather than destroy it with my words.

I am grateful that parents named their children with funny names that make me smile. Today, it’s “Ralph.” Go ahead, say it. It’s fun.

I am grateful for books. I am not thrilled about technology, so a Kindle is not for me. I like to see how far along I’ve gotten in the book. I like to feel the pages. I like to use an actual bookmark or bulletin or picture to mark my place. I like to know that I don’t have to plug my book in and re-charge. And I like to accidentally “forget” a book I love and have finished for someone else to read. My Dad does that. If I could leave a book for you, accidentally, I would forget the one my Dad gives away – Love Does by Bob Goff. Seriously, people. If you haven’t read it, you are missing out.

And I am grateful for cinnamon ice cream and warm cinnamon bread pudding without raisins from Marisco’s Restaurant in Lawrence, Kansas. Oh my goodness gracious sakes alive.

Lord, at the end of the day, tune my heart to sing your grace — 

Instead of singing some off key number about what didn’t get done today, what went wrong, what failed, what didn’t turn out as hoped. 

Tune our hearts to sing Your grace at the end of the day & not our guilt —- and maybe that number just sounds a lot like: count your blessings, name them one by one.  – Ann Voskamp
#HonestPrayers #1000Gifts