Summer’s passing and Autumn’s beginning to cast her golden colors across our cottonwood trees. Hot apple cider comes to mind. As does gratitude. And the wisdom of Winnie-the-Pooh: “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” – A.A. Milne
In a more grownup way, Louie Schwartzberg’s time-lapsed photography, accompanied by wise words from Benedictine monk David Steindl-Rast, reminds me that gratitude is a holy in the daily way of life for the one who journeys with Jesus.
Beautiful. Lovely. Good. Definitely fits with Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (KJV).
What hidden-in-plain-sight everyday gratitude moments have you experienced lately? I’d love to hear about them.
Include gratitude in your day, and see if you sense the Spirit’s breath upon you. Catch you later, Susan
For more like this, see Discover the Surprising Secret to Contentment and When Appreciation Isn’t On the Agenda.
“Jesus likes it when we share.” -Adelaide, age 3: Pass this along to everybody and their brother. OK, maybe not everybody’s brother, but you know . . . all of your friends would be nice.
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This was a super reminder, Susan. I happen to be “fostering” a few baby squirrels and yesterday noticed how shiny each little hair on their coats are…how each one’s eyes are a little different shaped, and how they have the most endearing pads on their paws! Made me do a little hummy-song to the Creator!
How sweet, Pam! I’m jealous! (And also a great example of the video message. Thanks for sharing your baby squirrels with us!)
Okay, you and Ann Voscamp must be on the same page today. :0)
Love it. I woke up heavy with life and the never-ending to-do list this morning. And in the midst of my internal moaning, the Lord interrupted with a nudge about perspective. Exactly as you’ve laid out here. :0) My day can be full of noticing the God-breathed magic-infused “ordinary” gifts of today, or shadowed by the joy-sucking negative gaze at my tired feet. Perspective. The right one brings life to the journey. :0)
So the first thing I noticed (following this attitude correction)? My little son had in bed next to me with his cute bedhead hair and warm-smelling skin. :0)
Oh Mary, that’s a lovely hidden-in-plain-sight gratitude moment–a son who snuggles with bedhead hair and warm-smelling skin. Love it!
My Dad instilled the importance of being a grateful person in me at a very young age. Every time I’m with him, I notice how he takes extra measures to make everyone he meets feel loved, appreciated and most of all important. He has a way of letting people know that he is very grateful that they’re there. No matter who they are, what they’ve done, and where they’ve come from or where they’re going. Having a grateful heart is “catching” and it’s something that we can all share, by example.
I am alive today, after a tough few months of battling cancer. I am thankful for the amazing gift of life, of sight, of sound, of touch, of smell, of taste and most importantly, for being able to love! Especially to love and cuddle my precious new grandson who fills me with awe and more thankfulness than I thought possible.
I feel more alive than ever before and have more to be grateful for than ever before!
What a wonderful comparison, Fran. I’m thankful you’re alive too. You dad is an amazing man!
I just got my test results back and they were cancer free! Yea. So I’m good to go too. I focused on this news after learning that our car needs $500 worth of work done on it. So thankful for cancer free news and the ability to pay for the car and not have to worry about $ for cancer treatment.
Awesome results Susan! We will have to celebrate together and that will give us eomething else to be thankful for – the freedom to celebrate our many blessings 🙂
Agreed! And to celebrate the blessings of friends, Fran. 🙂