It's the simple things

Sometimes it's the simple things in life that make the biggest difference. Maybe it's a meal and hospitality provided by a friend, maybe it's a random, surprising and uplifting note sent to you...and maybe it's your husband taking your picture without you even knowing and telling the world how much he loves you.

I'm fortunate to say all of those great things happened to me this past week/weekend. 

You've probably heard the saying, "don't sweat the small stuff". While I agree, sweating the small stuff may leave us worried about things we can't control or frustrated by the seemingly insignificant. I'd argue, though, that the "small stuff" is what my generation, and younger generations, are missing. You see, we busy our lives with so many things that we only have time to notice the big things in life. Before long, you struggle to see God in the seemingly insignificant and are wondering where He is when you're not seeing the big miracles. 

I've come to a point in my life where the small stuff matters. Kindness, respect, taking time out of your day, listening, doing something 'just because', the 'go out of your way to show love' kind of thing. I think some of getting to this point is maturity. But I think some of it is due to observation (not judgement) of others and seeing what I don't want to be or seeing how I don't want to act. You know, we all have the friends who always have their hand out asking for something. I'm sure I've been there before. But take and take and take and eventually...it makes the giver struggle to give with a pure heart. (Or maybe that's just been me.)

I've been pondering my 1000 gifts and how/if I want to carry out counting to 1000. What I find keeps happening is when I'm not counting, I resort back to old habits of looking for the big stuff. When I do keep count, I am striving, searching and praying for the next thing, big or small, so I can take time and be thankful. 

So, I believe it's all about the small stuff. Most of us are not going to see someone walk on water, turn water into wine or even die and be resurrected. (visibly that is.)  So, I'm going to choose to see the small stuff for what they are...blessings. Each and every one of them. How blessed am I to have friends who would provide a meal for us? How blessed am I to receive a note with genuine care, concern and love for me? And how blessed am I that my husband, nearly 7 years after we married, still takes a moment to see his bride, see love and share that with the world?

Reflection on 1000 Gifts

I was reading a blog about the book I’ve been reading, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. This blog was addressing the ‘craze’ about the book and why it was on the New York Times Best Seller for months.  I love how the blogger described the impact of the book. She said,

“One Thousand Gifts is changing my life, not because gratitude is the key to salvation, but because gratefulness brings me to God’s presence every time.”

There have been some discrepancies by theologians if gratitude can help us experience our salvation to the full like the author described. Theologians are saying that we can’t earn our grace; therefore there is concern with saying we need to do something aside from our acknowledgement of our need for a Savior. Some believe that the author’s point, of finding thankfulness in every situation, is not always the best thing and not 100% scriptural. Critics say that when Jesus was on the cross, he did not express gratitude and so maybe reacting to all of life’s circumstances with thankfulness is not always the reaction we should have in order to experience salvation to the full.

The author repeatedly discusses finding gratitude in the every day, small things…like washing the dishes. She describes looking at a bubble and finding joy in that bubble. Maybe that sounds a bit extreme. I thought so too as I began reading examples like that. But as I read on, I found that it’s not about the bubble. It’s about changing perspective. It’s not about me and my desire (or lack thereof) to do the dishes. It’s about being grateful for a home and for dirty dishes as they mean we’ve had food on our table.  It’s about being grateful for running water, something many in this world don’t have.

I think what the author is trying to communicate is that the moment we turn our eyes away from ourselves, we see God. We see all of the ways He’s blessed us. We are open to the world around us and can be in a state of gratitude rather than the selfishness and insecurities that plague us all.

Going back to that quote, “…gratefulness brings me to God’s presence every time.”

I find myself battling this every day. But the moment I do, I find my days filled with more joy, open to more of God’s blessings and ready and willing to serve when the time is right. One of our church pastors said this weekend, “Sometimes God uses our life circumstances for us to help save/rescue others.” It reiterates to me that through that tough time, we can turn toward God, being grateful that He’s using us and helping us grow. But it doesn’t end there. Then we can pray for opportunities to share our story, our challenges or obstacles in life and how He’s helped us to overcome.

Just as I write this, I am overwhelmed with the blessing of being used in a way to share His redemptive story.