As I prepare for the World Race, one thing thing that God has been teaching me is how important it is to be thankful in every circumstance. So I tried becoming more intentional in giving thanks and noticed something about how I tend to give thanks. My tendency is to give a blanket thanks for everything, consider my duty done, and move on with my life. I don’t normally take the time to really think about what specifically I am thankful for or why. As a result, I tend to not recognize some of the gifts God has given me. When I don’t take the time, I’m also missing out on spending valuable time with my loving Father. What blessings do I miss when I am too busy to think about how I am continually being blessed?
So the other day I sat down to write 25 specific things for which I was thankful. It had been a great day and I was outside surrounded by nature with my journal and a pencil. Nobody else was near me. Coming up with a list was easy.
Then came yesterday. I didn’t get much sleep and then I started at 4am working on a BBQ chicken fundraiser. It didn’t go quite as well as I had hoped. By the time I got home I was exhausted and my right shoulder was hurting. (I injured it a few weeks ago.) I was having a hard time not feeling like the whole day had been a waste of time and energy. Then God told me to start writing 25 things that I had been thankful for that day. I didn’t want to nor did I feel like it but I did. I’m not going to lie. It. was. hard. Very hard. But it started getting easier. By the time I finished, I was feeling much better and realized how much difference my mindset can affect how I view any given day.
Below are the two lists I made.
1. Different shaped leaves
2. Different size trees
3. Unique patterns of bark
4. Sunlight filtering through the leaves
5. Leaves dancing in the wind
6. Sunlight and shadows chasing each other across the forest floor
7. Pastel sunsets that bring peacefulness and calm
8. Bright, vivid sunsets that make me laugh with joy at the Artist’s amazing creativity
9. Dirty feet from running barefoot
10. Speckled eggs
11. Startlingly, bright blue robin eggs
12. Tiny, fragile eggs
13. Fresh eggs with strong flavor
14. Cloud shadows
15. Puffy white clouds floating across a bright blue sky
16. Busy ants diligently searching for food
17. Curly hair that looks different every day
18. Dry, rotting leaves that will replenish the nutrients in the soil
19. Bugs and worms that help with decomposition, paving the way for more life, new life
20. Intricately woven nests created with beak and claw yet better fashioned than what I could make with my own hands humbling me
21. The chorus of crickets
22. The chattering of squirrels
23. The sun spilling over the horizon as the world awakens to another day
24. Chirping birds
25. Scolding jays chasing away all that enters their domain
26. Friends who are willing to get up at 3am to help me
27. Protective friends who find ways to make sure I don’t push myself too hard
28. Sunshine when rain was expected
29. The generosity of strangers
30. People who go out of their way to be helpful
31. Amusing cartoons
32. Caring coworkers
33. Baby bunnies and their antics
33. Showers
34. Delicious chicken
35. Unexpected compliments
40. The feeling of being clean after a hard day
41. A bed to relax in
42. Emotions that allow me to empathize but don’t have to define me
43. Memories of days filled with laughter
44. Fresh peaches
45. Peach crisp
46. Homemade bread
47. The smell of bread cooking
48. Warm, soft, chewy cookies
49. Cream
50. Homemade ice cream
