Where do I begin? That’s a million dollar question! On this thankfulness journey that I look forward to sharing with you, I’d like to share how the journey itself started.
A little over a year ago, two very dear-to-my-heart young women, twins, started separate year-long “10,000 Reasons” thankfulness blogs. The idea was to each day list 27 reasons they had for being thankful that day, and at the end of the year they each had 10,000 things to be thankful for! Isn’t that amazing? At the time they completed those journeys, I considered starting one myself, but somehow it didn’t feel like the right time to do so.
The other morning I opened my Bible, and as the ribbon had come out, I flipped through the pages to reach where I had last read. BAM – there it was; Colossians 4:6 — “Let your speech be with grace…” I looked up related words in the thesaurus, and one of them is thanksgiving. I looked heavenward and said outloud, “You’re something else, ya know?” It is not God’s habit to speak to us through the hunt-and-peck method or wherever the page happens to fall open to, and we certainly shouldn’t seek answers in these ways, but this was an unmistakable word from Him.
“It is time.”
I intend to write at least once per week, on Sunday, though more often as He leads. This week I am thankful for:
- The love of horticulture and nature that He instilled within me. It is our responsibility to care for the world He gave us, and there are so many ways I can witness for Him through this ministry.
- Danielle
- Desiree
- I learn each day from my job at a garden center.
- I look younger than my 59 years.
- I don’t have to work in an office anymore!
- I don’t have a roommate! It would take 10 years to tell you about those nightmares.
- Sebastian (picture attached), the rescue cat I had from 2008 until just recently. Though I suffer through the heartbreak of needing to send him back to God, I was given a very special spirit to take care of, and I can’t wait to see him, Mozart, and Jack again.
- God’s never ending mercy and grace.
- It finally has stopped being so darn hot (think 90 and 100+ temps).
- The different ways that He speaks to me.
- I had a stress fracture earlier this year, but it healed well.
- God provides.
- The library – there is SO MUCH great material (books, dvds, etc) that you can get on loan for free. With the library system I take advantage of I can also read lots of magazines online for free.
- Free computer repair through a local church. I went this past Friday night, and in addition to clearing out the problems, the Jesus Geeks volunteer that helped me gave me some great tips.
- I am getting great joy, and lots of learning, from raising caterpillars. I’ve released one monarch so far, one in a chrysalis (which should come out by next Friday) and have three swallowtail cats that have just gone into chrysalis in the main cage.
- Karen – the best roommate ever. I haven’t seen her since 1994, but we communicate and she blesses me as a dear friend.
- Laurel – another dear sweet friend. We met as pen friends – gosh, how long has it been? – a long time ago.
- Lorraine – a local friend. She has helped me through difficult times, and is always there for me.
- Lorraine’s dog Rocky – I get to walk him pretty much anytime I want. It started as prescribed therapy, and now I do it for the sheer joy.
- I got to spend the evening with Rocky and his “cousin” Mimi last night.
- An Excel chart template which serves as a check register. It even charts the areas of your spending. I’ve always disliked keeping track of such things because I live on very meager means, but I think this will actually be fun and help me save money by tracking spending.
- My goodness – the first 21 just rolled off my fingertips! Thank you, God, for your blessings.
- My college degree
- Pinterest – seriously, I have so much fun learning and saving ideas on this site.
- The internet – though it costs, there is boundless free entertainment.
- Wild parrots in this area – I’m not sure anyone knows their origin, but some of them are most likely descendants of released domesticated parrots. It is a joy to hear them swarm in flocks and sweep the sky in the morning. Another of God’s creations….
- I’m thankful that my laptop is well again.
Of course, I have lots more to be thankful for, but I think is a great start to my blog. I hope to hear from you soon; let me know what you think, questions you have, and anything else you would like to say.
God bless,
Gail
Grace Notes -- a thankfulness blog 