Eucharisteo...

Thankfulness...

Warmpth under blue woolen blanket, pages to turn...

Windy days, red kites and excitement in the air...

Cold hands wrapping string tight...

Rainbows dancing in air...

Thankfulness has been dancing through my mind and life lately.  I began reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and... even though I am not yet done reading, my heart leaps with joy at new realizations.  The book brings slowness, and deliberateness to the journey I am on.  

I am finding it, looking for it now.  What is there right now?  To be thankful for?  Windy fall days, board games on oak tables and cold sandwich lunches...  

But I have begun to realize, to be thankful means...  so much.  It provides a fullness I have never felt in quite this way... always looking for the gifts and thanking the Giver of all.

To be thankful means, to be full.  And to me- to be full means not taking back that thankfulness... selfishly wishing for more.  

To be thankful for the windy day, means not to wish it were warmer.  

To be thankful for windswept hair and dogs with tennis balls...

Is not to wish for the hair to not be tangled when brushing later...

and balls to not be soggy when thrown.

And these are the simple things...  It gets tougher...  Thank you for grandparents to learn and grow with... but not to wish they were with you longer than He had planned...

Thank you for friends and growing together... but not wishing you had not experienced the pain in your past that you had to go through.  Knowing that you would not be able to grow the way you have without that past pain, that you wouldn't have the heart needed to hear other peoples pain and still know... God is good and able to be thanked.

I remember the phrase, " I can't complain..."  And think... this is a sign of a thankful heart!

And I think of the book of Numbers, and even in chapter 14 when the Israelites grumbled.  Complaining even when God had continually provided for them even with manna.  Really?  I see here in chapter 14, would it really be better to go back into captivity???  Better than thanking the maker of all who had provided in all situations?  

What if their grumbling had turned to thankfulness?  Would their hearts have been ready for the land they had been promised?  Even in the sight of giants?

Is my heart ready?  Ready for all He has for me?  Will I run back to captivity with my grumbling?  

I don't think so...  I want to keep thanking...

Philippians 4:12

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.