I'm not a big reader... I wish I was. But there have been a few books that I have read where you just can't put it down. I am reading one of those right now. I wish I had the time to "not put it down" but that's just not possible...so I'm reading it when I can. This is allowing me to really ponder though on what I read, on each chapter and asking God to speak to me through it. A lot of people have read this book and recommended it and told me how amazing it was. Ann Voskamp (You can visit her blog
here) is an amazing author/writer... so different, unique and very poetic. She makes you think. She wrote a book called
One Thousand Gifts and I am SO LOVING THIS BOOK! If you haven't read it...buy it! You won't be sorry. Its a dare to live fully right where you are... not matter where you are, in the good times, bad times, sad times... You need to live fully in that moment, thanking GOD for everything and every situation. God is telling us something in every situation...are we going to try and hear what it is that He is saying? I'm trying to be more present... trying to listen more...and most importantly showing gratitude. Being thankful for
every little moment... Ann started a "Gratitude Journal" in which she wrote the gifts in every day life that God handed to her. I started my own gratitude journal. It's exciting to wake up and say "Lets see what God has for me today," "What will I get to write down today." I love it!
I'm really praying that I will learn to be "thankful" FIRST and not let my thoughts and actions go elsewhere. It's hard... but its what I want to do. Its what I want to be. A person who finds the good in everything and is thankful for it.
Eucharisteo ... the greek work meaning: to be grateful, feel thankful. To give thanks.
Ann writes in her book:
"The root word of eucharisteo is charis, meaning “grace.” Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks.
But there is more, and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning “joy.” Joy. Ah…yes. I might be needing me some of that. That might be what the quest for more is all about–that which Augustine claimed, “Without exception…all try their hardest to reach the same goal, that is joy.”
I love how this word breaks down:
Charis:
Grace
Eucharisteo:
Thanksgiving
Chara:
Joy
One of my favorite lines in the book so far:
"Eucharisteo - thanksgiving - always precedes the miracle."
So I'm on a journey to 1,000 gifts... Only on #21... Got a long way to go :) Can't wait to see what He shows me a long the way.
He is one of my ultimate gifts!
