I am reading a book called One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.
It is rich, full of beauty, and full of truth:
"I know there is poor and hideous suffering, and I've seen the hungry and guns that go to war. I have lived pain, and my life can tell: I only deepen the wound of the world when I neglect to give thanks for... the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and the good things that a good God gives. Why would the world need more anger, more outrage? How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us? Rejecting joy to stand in solidarity with the suffering doesn't rescue the suffering. The converse does. The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world. When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin, life grows. How can this not be the best thing for the world?"
I do not want to be one who deepens the wound of the world.
I am learning so much about the necessity of gratitude.
Not just in the great and good things but in every breath, every trial, and every triumph.
If we fully accept God's grace and salvation, we should be thanking him for every detail of every moment of our lives. "Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving?"
"As long as thanks is possible, joy is always possible. Joy is always possible."
Specifically I am thankful for the Ranch. I am thankful for the friends and people that God has enhanced my life with. I am thankful for the moments of joy that I receive so often.
"With an expiration of less than 12 hours, what does Jesus count as all most important?"
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them... (Luke 22:19).
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