Lesotho.
A country of peace.
“Khotso” is actually a commonly used greeting here meaning peace with you.
It’s all over billboards and you can sense this amongst the people.
Yet somehow my first two weeks in this beautiful mountain country were filled with internal distraction, confusion, and restlessness. Questions filled my head: Jesus why did you bring me here? Am I even going to make a difference? Am I going to be changed, really?
With all the good I’m surrounded by, how could I feel such a way?
Seriously—an incredible host family that has welcomed us into their home, overwhelming, indescribable sunrises and sunsets, mountain ranges on every side of the village, opportunities to share hope and love with college students, a community center filled with little minds eager to learn and play, unexpected comforts from home, and so much more.
So why couldn’t I feel this peace in the midst of all of these wonderful gifts?
I sat down to talk with God, and I was shocked. He said I needed a spirit of gratitude.
I could’ve convinced anyone that I was grateful. I mean, I’m living in Africa, on a year-long mission trip, getting once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, surrounded by incredible people. I thought I was grateful, thankful, appreciative. But my all-knowing Creator has more in mind…
I’ve been reading a book called One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. Through this book, this area of my heart is being revealed to me.
In short, this story encompasses the life of a farmer’s wife, a mother of 6, and a woman recently diagnosed with cancer. She is creeping into depression, her past hurts were haunting her, and a new diagnosis leads her further into darkness—until she receives an email. A friend challenges her to write down 1000 gifts she finds in her daily life. With a glimmer of hope, Ann grabs a pen and a journal and begins listing. Naming.
Still warm cookies.
Moonlight on the pillows.
Mail in the mailbox.
All named as gifts of God.
Somehow, she is finding true, undefiled JOY in her life. Joy in the smallest of moments, like bubbles that reflect the sun while washing dishes, to the joys that are hiding in the midst of pain. How can there be joy in pain?
Slowly, joy begins to flood her heart. The more gifts she numbers, the more her heart swells. She is creating the one thing she craves more of but can’t grasp: time. An endless treasure hunt, this woman literally slows time by being fully present where she is. Where God has her.
Think back to the Garden of Eden for a moment: Adam and Eve were somehow unsatisfied with all that God had promised them. They listened to the serpent, and longed for more. They were ungrateful.
If the fall of man was the ingratitude, then salvation must be intimately related to a life of eucharisteo, the giving of thanks. Thanksgiving is directly related to the fullest life that God has promised. A life of joy, satisfaction, humility. With Jesus, a life of thanksgiving is our way back to the heart of our first Love.
Eucharisteo: The Greek word that Jesus uttered as he broke the bread preceding his death. The word literally meaning to receive grace, give thanks, and thus embrace joy.
“I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to life on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” Philippians 4:11-12
I want to live a life in this promise. I want to be a woman filled with true, undefiled joy that has been freely given to me by a Savior, the Healer of my flawed heart. Do you?
“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20
I have a challenge for you and me. Check out my next blog post and join me in this quest for joy…
(I have in no way done this book justice, so if you have the ability, read it as soon as you can. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.)
