Glad in His Work

I’ve kept a “thankful” journal since April of 2013.

I hadn’t  read One Thousand Gifts by Anne Voskamp yet, but I started counting anyway.

I’m a no-need-to-read-the-directions-I-saw-the-picture-already kind of girl.

Giving a name to the gifts is wonderfully helpful at the moment.

It’s also wonderfully helpful in hindsight.

‘Cause I forget the…

26. Rain on the tin roof.

40. The promise of forgiveness.

56. Waders!

57.  Lovely hot shower after wading.

69. Clean running well water, tasting sweet. 91. Light coming after darkness.

145. Remembering what I forgot.

152. Pumpkin under the covers.  (I hope that’s her!)

163. Nan and Pop’s wedding.  Yesterday, 60 years ago.

168. Nana reeling in those big fish.

212.  Avery cracking pecans, having a “nutty good time!”

232. The story of Little Britches.

302. Jesse, the phantom of delight

343. Hot horse breath

392. Colorful thread to weave into pictures.

402. Oh! The Old Man’s bottle pile!

529.  Getting to read Churchill aloud, to an eager audience

551. The silver-cradle moon.

563.  The future, as bright as the promises of God.

589.  Red nightgown, white sheets.

708. Swollen knuckles, reminding me of “Death by Living”

743. He is not dead!  He is Risen!  Risen Indeed!

750. Looking up into the arms of the weeping elm.

792.  So many thankfuls, piling up.

850. Sweet stories, savored long

854.  The unique quiet of loud crickets.

900.  Humble, humble Jesus

“One act of thanksgiving, when things go wrong with us, is worth a thousand thanks when things are agreeable to our inclinations.”    –St. John of Avila

“Only he who gives thanks for little things receives the big things.  We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts.”   – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”    –G. K. Chesterton

“For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”     Psalm 92:4