The Gifts Received

 I love the idea of a Gratitude Journal. Writing a daily gratitude list is an exercise in recognizing the gifts in my life. It’s a discipline I’ve fallen short of lately, using this blog as my alternative. I share a semi-daily list with a friend, but I have to admit, I need to be nudged into remembering to write it. She’s well-practiced—she can whip out a list of half a dozen or so current items for which she’s grateful. I, on the other hand, offer three or four.

I find myself in the attitude of finding awareness in the macro, while not giving quite enough attention to the micro, to those daily ‘little’ things which add up to the great big “oh, wow”s. 

Life is made up of all the little things put together, falling apart, or ready to assemble. When I slow down and look carefully, I can see that each little thing is a gift, either all by itself or as part of a yet unseen whole. 

While in prayer I ask for specifics, I find in meditation those nuggets which get to the heart of my request. In an openness to giving thanks for it all, I find myself loosening my grip on what the results have to look like, instead trusting that “all is well, all is well, all manner of thing shall be well.”

It is learning to see the gifts received.