Simply Grateful

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

grat·i·tude [grat-i-tood] noun  the quality of being grateful or thankful; appreciation
Synonyms thanks, thankfulness, acknowledgement, gratefulness

I have been meditating on the power of gratitude for quite some time.  The stirrings in my heart began during a time when I was totally focused on everything that I did not have... not enough money, not enough time, not enough rest, not enough patience, not enough joy, not enough peace. 

It was during an especially quiet moment one day that I heard a still small voice whisper "What do you have?"  At first I didn't know how to respond.  I had spent so much time thinking about what was absent that I couldn't think of what was present in my life.  Over the course of the next few days I kept hearing that phrase.  "What do you have?"

In the midst of the storm that was raging all around, so dark I could hardly see, I was finally able to count at least one blessing.  Just that little bit of gratitude provided some nourishment to the tiny seed of hope in my heart and I could feel it begin to grow.  

There were many days that I could only find one or two little things to appreciate.  But it is the little moments strung together that make up a life and I soon found myself purposing to notice these little moments.  My focus began to shift to what I did have and I could feel myself breathe deeply again. An attitude of gratitude...

Now it is November... traditionally a season of thanksgiving.  The perfect time to challenge myself to further expand my heart by giving thanks here each day for the gracious gifts I receive from my gracious God.  

Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
~George Herbert

Today I'm grateful for:

• the goodbye kiss my husband gave me this morning even though I was barely awake
• the kind, encouraging words spoken to me by a dear friend when I shared some sad news
• a hot bowl of soup on a cold day
• daughters who strive to do their best even when it's hard
• my sweet Baxter who is content to just sit with me.

Will you take the challenge with me?  What are you thankful for today?

Giving thanks to God is what ushers one into the very presence of God. And this is why He asks us to always give thanks. ~ Ann Voskamp