Thanksgiving is a way of life

“And when I give thanks for the seemingly microscopic, I make a place for God to grow within me.”

“…life change comes when we receive life with thanks and ask for nothing to change.”

“As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible.”

“We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to His grace.”

― Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

I have slowly been reading the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann VosKamp. Thankfulness is and has to be a way of life. For every little moment of encounter with the Divine, thanks. For every little blessing for every little movement that I can do in a day, be it the ability to open a door, to typing on my iPad, to breathing…thanks. For the blessings of the morning bike rides and breathing the fresh air, feeling the warm sun on my back, the ability of my legs and lungs and balance…thanks. Being able to work in a ministry where people are continually being moved and healed and caused to grow and challenged and changed…thanks. For being challenged and encouraged to examine my financial life seven years ago and for the blessings of getting out and staying out of debt since 2008…thanks. For being able to give…thanks. For the beauty of the water, for laughter, for friendship, for the ability to use tools and create something…thanks.

The list really could go on and on. I guess what I am getting at is that all the little stuff in life isn’t really little at all, but significant and worthy of thanks. An attitude of gratitude, yes. That’s the space I want to live in every single day. Life is such a gift from God, every single moment. Thank you Lord for your goodness, for your moment by moment blessings.