One Thousand Gifts

A while ago I started reading Ann Vaskomp's book One Thousand Gifts and although I haven't had much time to read lately, the theme of the book has stirred something in me. I've seen other bloggers begin lists of their own thousand gifts, and it has really touched me. You see, my heart has been broken for months and months now & sometimes I'm failing to see what is beautiful in my life. I want to be a daughter of God with a grateful heart. I want to be a wife with a grateful heart. I want to be a mommy, a friend, a missionary with a grateful heart. Lately I've felt like my joy is slipping away. I kind of feel like my whole life was flipped upside down and everything is draining out. I don't want that to be my story. Once there was a girl who walked through sorrow. She lost her joy. Her heart was bound by sorrow. There was pain on her face.

That just seems so tragic. But it feels like it has become truth in me. My heart just aches. A lot. But I'm learning that I have a choice to make. I can sit down right here under this tree of sorrow and watch the world dance by. I could lay a blanket of grief and lay down in defeat.

Oh, but something in the wind is stirring my soul to awaken.


Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed.

I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who vindicates me.
He sends from heaven and saves me...

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth...

My heart, O God, is steadfast,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalm 57)


Awake my soul....do not lay down in death. Choose life. Choose joy. Choose hope. Choose contentment. Choose thankfulness.

And so...here begins my list of 1000 small joys that breathe life into my soul:

1. A patient Father who tenderly comforts me
2. Shadows that dance on my walls in the late afternoon
3. Hugs in the morning from my man
4. Tiny voices that call me Mommy
5. Coffee breaks in the afternoon
6. Eyelashes on little princesses
7. Quiet moments with my Prince of Peace
8. Handwritten notes
9. Tacos
10. Sitting under a big blanket remembering beautiful memories