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.