I will list just three things today for which I am grateful:

1. Sitting at a picnic table, a slight breeze to cool the skin in the late July early evening sunshine, the only sounds coming from the toddler and his daddy playing on the playground equipment and the neighbor greeting us a “hello” while walking her Labrador retriever, and giving all of my attention to a young girl who desperately needs someone to love her – the hour went too quickly…
2. Foster parents who sacrifice their comfort, time, finances, and their lifestyle to do love for the unloved, abused, and neglected.
3. Andrae the giant, otherwise known as my only grandson, because today he begins his fourth year of life and delights every person who is privileged enough to know this little giant.

 Happy birthday, sweet kiddo. You are pure joy to this Ama.

Oh, I can’t stop at three. Gratefuls to me = Lays potato chips, because I can’t eat/speak just three. I must partake of the entire bag of bliss.

So…

4. This crazy book I am reading by this crazy author who is “interrupting” my life with her radical thinking and is being used by God to mess up my entire belief system about Christianity and the role of the church in a post-modern world.

I am so sincere about this. If you will read it, I will send it to you. But you have to promise me you’ll read it and then pass it on.

About the Author
	Jan Hatmaker is the author of 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess and A Modern Girl’s Bible Study series. With a heart for her generation, she speaks at conferences around the country. Jen resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Brandon, and their five children. To learn more about Jen and follow her blog, go towww.jenhatmaker.com.

And finally,

5. This nugget of pure perfection to begin a weekend that started with LOADS of stress and unexpected challenges and will conclude having spent time with my daughter and son-in-law, four of my grandchildren, my sister, my niece, my Dad, and my Mom’s beautiful family in St. Louis:

Hey Soul? Just exhale (right now) … and Smile. Feel better? Practice again. Smile. “Fix my eyes on God— soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” Ps.42:5 MSG.

Sometimes smiling is an act of defiance against what’s pressing down hard. Sometimes smiling is an act of sheer bravery.

Practice Smiling. Practice counting gifts. Practice your faith.

It’s Friday & let’s bravely wear the label — Joy is a habit: wear it.