This morning I woke up determined to give thanks in any and all circumstances of my day. It was my goal to be in a constant mindset of thanksgiving. I have been reading Ann Voskamp’s 1000 Gifts this week. It has really been a reminder to me of how important it is to be thankful. It is so powerful in changing our attitudes, and thus our lives. And when it comes down to it, we are commanded to give thanks to God. In everything.
This morning I woke up determined to give thanks in any and all circumstances of my day. It was my goal to be in a constant mindset of thanksgiving. I have been reading Ann Voskamp’s 1000 Gifts this week. It has really been a reminder to me of how important it is to be thankful. It is so powerful in changing our attitudes, and thus our lives. And when it comes down to it, we are commanded to give thanks to God. In everything.
So, this morning I was all ready to give thanks. I started off with the easy things, like hot coffee and being ready earlier than I thought I would be. I was ready to go, my car was warmed up, and I had my breakfast ready to take with me to eat on the way. This morning on the menu was toast with peanut butter on it. Something about peanut butter toast just really makes me happy. I could eat peanut butter with a spoon. Oh wait, that actually happens.
Anyway! I had my toast on a paper plate in one hand, my coffee in the other. I was unstoppable! Well, at least for the first five feet out the door. After that, the 30 mph wind grabbed the plate from my hand, and in slow motion I saw my peanut butter toast doing flips through the air. I heard myself cry out, “No, No!” as if my words had some power over the wind or gravity. Perhaps they did, as my toast flipped just enough times to land upright on the ground. Now, don’t judge me here. I picked that toast up, got in my car, and proceeded to eat it just as I had planned. If it was a little extra crunchy this morning, I pretended not to notice. I gave thanks. For toast in the wind.
The rest of the day proceeded with multiple other hiccups and inconveniences, but it also had plenty of laughs and joyful moments. I tried to remember to stop and give thanks for everything, but I know I missed so so many things. Looking back, I know I didn’t even scratch the surface. Can we really ever say thank you enough? To God? To those around us?
One thing I saw today as I walked the road of thankfulness was that my attitude changed. I didn’t look for the worst; I looked for how I could turn it into a reason to give thanks. Our circumstances may not change when we give thanks, but we change. We begin to see things more clearly, as God has designed them.
Tomorrow, I challenge you to walk the road of thankfulness. Be fully aware of all the things that you have to be thankful for. Look for the big things. Look for the small things too, like a green light when you’re running late, or a friendly cashier at the store. Give thanks when things go right, and look for reasons to give thanks in the moments of struggle. Give thanks for the toast in the wind.
So, this morning I was all ready to give thanks. I started off with the easy things, like hot coffee and being ready earlier than I thought I would be. I was ready to go, my car was warmed up, and I had my breakfast ready to take with me to eat on the way. This morning on the menu was toast with peanut butter on it. Something about peanut butter toast just really makes me happy. I could eat peanut butter with a spoon. Oh wait, that actually happens.
Anyway! I had my toast on a paper plate in one hand, my coffee in the other. I was unstoppable! Well, at least for the first five feet out the door. After that, the 30 mph wind grabbed the plate from my hand, and in slow motion I saw my peanut butter toast doing flips through the air. I heard myself cry out, “No, No!” as if my words had some power over the wind or gravity. Perhaps they did, as my toast flipped just enough times to land upright on the ground. Now, don’t judge me here. I picked that toast up, got in my car, and proceeded to eat it just as I had planned. If it was a little extra crunchy this morning, I pretended not to notice. I gave thanks. For toast in the wind.
The rest of the day proceeded with multiple other hiccups and inconveniences, but it also had plenty of laughs and joyful moments. I tried to remember to stop and give thanks for everything, but I know I missed so so many things. Looking back, I know I didn’t even scratch the surface. Can we really ever say thank you enough? To God? To those around us?
One thing I saw today as I walked the road of thankfulness was that my attitude changed. I didn’t look for the worst; I looked for how I could turn it into a reason to give thanks. Our circumstances may not change when we give thanks, but we change. We begin to see things more clearly, as God has designed them.
Tomorrow, I challenge you to walk the road of thankfulness. Be fully aware of all the things that you have to be thankful for. Look for the big things. Look for the small things too, like a green light when you’re running late, or a friendly cashier at the store. Give thanks when things go right, and look for reasons to give thanks in the moments of struggle. Give thanks for the toast in the wind.