As I type these words I imagine some of you are celebrating Thanksgiving, hearts heavy with thankfulness, faces glowing with candle-light and closeness, enjoying family, friendship and fine food.
Or maybe the meal is over and you’re sitting sharing more intimate conversation, listening and laughter. Maybe squabbling (amicably, of course, we are just imagining the best scenario) over who does the dishes and who gets to choose the TV programmes, and will you pass the chocolates, please?
All good gifts. All grace. All manifestations of the myriad ways we are given holy moments in the everyday. Touches of mercy to warm our hearths and hearts.
For it’s in the simple things of life, eating, drinking, breaking bread together that we become connected, members of God’s big family.
United in His love, and by His provision for us, joined by joy in giving and receiving, in encouraging and sharing.
In the daily grind there is always space for blessing, for gratitude, for being kind, recognising grace and giving it to others.
We may just need to ask God to help us to see it and pass it on.
‘Gratitude’
God’s golden-glimmer gifts of grace
discovered in the commonplace
Rest and sleep, deep peace and ease,
soft wind of Holy Spirit breeze
All our hearts desire and need,
awareness of our pride and greed
Trust and faith will light the way
on discouraging, darker days
Invitation, inspiration ignite
the fire to come up higher
Truth seen, received, believed and heard,
witnessed in Jesus as The Word
Understanding of all our faults and flaws,
underpinning of God’s righteous laws
Divine encounters opening heaven’s door
as death is defeated for ever more
Embraced by Love, encouraged
and comforted by God above
©JoyLenton2014
Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is greatly helped by deliberately noticing and counting blessings. One of the best resources I know for this is Ann Voskamp’s lovely book, ‘One Thousand Gifts’.
In fact, because this book has had such a beneficial effect on my life, I have a free copy to give away, chosen at random from those leaving a comment below.
I’ll kick things off with my own grace gifts for today:
1) As I pulled the curtains back after a wakeful, pain-filled night, I saw a blaze of heart-shaped light filtering through the gloomy grey outside, edging the clouds like a living thing. It felt like God was saying it’s OK, My love-light can seep through the most challenging nights and days and bring hope back to you.
2) The poem above falling into my head as I pondered on God’s goodness and grace.
3) Having a husband who holds me close even (yes, especially) on my tear-filled, over-tired, angsty days when I feel so unworthy of his love. He is a living reminder of the love of God continually poured out, always giving, faithful and unconditional.
Now over to you:What 3 things are you thankful for today? (you can add more if you wish)
Just leave a comment below to be in with a chance to win a free copy of ‘One Thousand Gifts’. (Offer limited to UK residents only due to postal charges – sorry) But please do leave a comment anyway so that we can share in praising God together for His gifts of grace. PS: I am so thankful for all of you who read and follow this blog. Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day! 🙂