Ponderings of Thankfulness (Gabrielle)
It is a strange thing. I felt sure when I started posting every day and giving thanks for something that I would very shortly run out of things to say. I mean, I can only be thankful for so much, right? But now that I am giving thanks I am noticing more to be thankful for. Some things are big and some things are very, very small. And I think I want to post about the small things more than I want to post about the big things. It is easy for people to notice a beautiful sunset or the food right before them, but what about the swirl in your coffee when you pour the milk in? Or the way the sunlight slants into your room in the morning? Those are also gifts from our Father.
I read a book about contentment, specifically contentment for single women, titled Fine China Is For Single Women Too. It was a fine book and I remember being challenged when the author spoke of being grateful for the lot God has given her. She said that she started noticing really little things and pausing to be happy in them and be grateful for them. And as she noticed more gifts from God she was happier in those gifts. And as she was thankful for the little gifts like the view from her window at work she found it easier to be thankful for the bigger gifts like the gift of singleness.
I have noticed a joy in myself since I’ve start writing about what I am thankful for. I’ve started noticing more things to pause and glory in, more things to be happy about and to praise God for. I do hope this joy will last. When I notice how much I am enjoying my nephews in their PJs it becomes easier to be thankful for the gift of my little nook. No, it doesn’t have a door, but have you noticed how the sunlight comes in the windows in the morning? It’s beautiful. Or have you seen the way one of the children will pop through the curtains with no warning like their going out on stage? It’s a joy to see. Even just being thankful is a gift from the Father of Lights. And for that I will pause and say Thanks.
 Â
Since I don’t maintain a blog of my own, I’m going to abuse yours for the sake of posting a spot of my own thankfulness. My work day is not going as I would want thus far, and the negativity just seems to be snowballing. My crowning achievement for the day happened when my boss (Jason M.), who is out sick today, called the office and I accidentally disconnected him. Although this won’t cause me to be fired (I hope!), I’d like it very much if I could undo this mistake.
After this incident, I spent some time stewing and thinking about how great it would be if I could just go back to bed and have a redo for today. Then I read your thanksgiving post (and some of Adiel’s posts as well), and I started to realize how thankful I am to even have a bed to crawl back into. It’s even better to know that we have a God who provides rest and peace, neither of which I deserve. Thank you Jesus for making this possible.
Gaby and Adiel (if you read this), thank you for reminding me to be thankful.