Gratefulness
Gratefulness:
1. appreciative of benefits received b : expressing gratitude <grateful thanks
2. affording pleasure or contentment :pleasing
An old friend of mine started a photo project a few years back. For 365 days, she took a Polaroid of one thing this was grateful for that day. There are many wonderful moments in my day where I can stop and be grateful for it. But, most of the time, it passes by, undocumented and then it is quickly forgotten. Documenting your gratefulness is a great exercise to not only remember all the blessings and gifts in your life (for we tend to remember the negative more than the positive), it trains you to recognize more of the good around you and you start to see even more things and moments to be grateful for.
The earthquake in Japan is another reminder of how volatile our life is. I am grateful for YHWH who gives me my every breath. Every moment is from Him. He decides when my time is done.
I have set a goal to write down one thing I am grateful for every day. This may seem easy, but it’s really a disciple to notice them and to remember to write the moments down. I have missed many days already. Even though I noticed a moment and was grateful, forgeting to write it down or thinking I could write it later, I totally forgot what those moments were. I started almost a month ago, but will share with you a few of my gratefulness moments:
- I am grateful for my slippers and my hot cup of tea with milk and honey, on this chilly morning.
- Joy’s belly laugh during daddy tickles.
- Tonight, while I was taking out our garbage, I noticed the clear night sky with a total unobstructed view of the stars. It was comforting and spectacular.
- Running around with my kids, playing tag outside in the sunshine.
- Resting on the bed with Sky and listening to the giggles and shouts coming from the table where Andrew and the boys are playing an animated game of UNO.
- A bag full of freshly picked oranges from an orchard next door to us.
- Our new tad pole pets, Speed, Spot, Swimmer, Swimmer Jr, Tommy, Gus, Squirt, and Astro Boy
- A long uninterrupted breakfast date: mocha, omelet, pancakes and a very handsome man.
- Drinking my tea and watching the kids play outside from my window
Have a grateful day!
March 14th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
It made me cry as I read your statements. I have written some things down over past years but not enough when you guys were little and there were so many little things I would thank God for each day He would give me something and I cherished all the little things my kids said but if not recorded it is hard to remember them all. Thank you for sharing. Time is precious. Love and hugs to all.