Grateful—Day 13
“I’m grateful for the small things that we so often take for granted.”
When I started my gratitude journal, there were so many things I’m grateful for that I thought I’d have a ready-made list, and I did. But as I began to write, I also began to become overwhelmed with what to write after about twenty things. Not because I didn’t have anything else to be grateful for, but because I felt like they had to be big significant things. Several other things I was extremely grateful for I felt like I’d captured in one big “I’m grateful for my life, health, and strength” type recognition and probably shouldn’t repeat what I’d made into an all-inclusive one.
As I was preparing items for Thanksgiving dinner and watching television, someone who was a guest on the morning news show spoke about what you should include in your gratitude list or journal. It caught my attention because I was a little surprised to learn that it was trendy to keep such a thing. Here was a psychologist and spiritual therapist being consulted for guided ideas to include on your list or in your journal. I hadn’t thought my gratitude journal was a brand-new idea, since obviously I’d started mine because Terry Savelle Foy had shared her experience in keeping one, but certainly I hadn’t thought it was a common contemporary idea. For me, it seemed like just the missing thing I’d thought about but not yet started and decided, there was no better time than the present. I hadn’t realized that many gratitude journals had been created, all over the world.
The great thing about learning this was, as I’m often pleasantly reminded, knowing that there are many Christians and others who just want to do good, be righteous, and who do recognize their blessings—even if you don’t hear them say it. But in that short five-minute segment with the doctor, the anchor asked her to share three things she liked to include in her gratitude journal, and her response was, “Oh, that’s easy. I like to include the small and simple things like waking up in a warm bed.” I thought, That’s exactly how I feel about things I’m grateful for. Many times, I like to remind people during Thanksgiving grace to be grateful for things like being present and among friends and family. Be grateful they were in a place where there is food on the table and plenty of it since for many, Thanksgiving is just another day of little food. A warm bed? What a blessing! So many adults and children are homeless today.
Lord, I thank you for all the small things and continue to thank you for big and little blessings that would not be possible without you. Just one of my many small things: I’m grateful I can hear the joy of music that blesses my soul and heart and helps me to remember how much God loves me. To be able to worship him through song and praise and let him know how much I love and appreciate him is a true blessing. Just imagine for a moment if you couldn’t. I am committed to making sure others realize that I am grateful to be a child of the most high God, singing aloud even when they put their hands over their ears.
What small but daily pleasure or comfort are you grateful for that others may not have?
Addressing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. —Ephesians 5:18–20