Last weekend was for me an encouraging time on this blog. I proposed that we’d come together as a blog community and practice the habit of thankfulness. It doesn’t come naturally for many of us, so we need to practice. I got the inspiration from this website. Leah writes notes to various things a…
Last weekend was for me an encouraging time on this blog. I proposed that we’d come together as a blog community and practice the habit of thankfulness. It doesn’t come naturally for many of us, so we need to practice. I got the inspiration from this website. Leah writes notes to various things and people in her life that threaten her attitude.
29 of you wrote notes expressing gratitude for some aspect of your life.
Kathy wrote:
Dear mom’s hydrocephalus,
Thanks for being something treatable and not a progressive incurable disease. Thanks also for allowing me to care with my mother with tenderness as she slows down.
Peace, Kathy
Cheryl wrote:
Dear infertility,
Thank you for the tender place you hollowed out within my heart. The hole you left has been filled with a Savior’s love in ways I surely would have missed. You taught me tears are nothing to hide or feel ashamed of. Because of you I have a heightened awareness of “heartpain” experienced by fellow travelers. Even if not the same pain that you inflict, my empathy and intuitiveness are deep. Without you, maybe I’d be less sensitive and more self-involved. Anyway, I’m mostly grateful because I have learned over these nearly-30 years since your unveiling that God allowed you to be. And He is always right.
XO,
Cher
Evan wrote:
Dear Addiction,
Thank you for always giving me the opportunity to be an overcomer. You’ve always reminded me to look to God when I’m at the end of my rope.
Evan
What issues do you find it difficult to be thankful for? Let me invite you to join with us in practicing something that all of us at times find difficult. Go ahead and write your note below.
DEAR UNFAITHFULNESS OF MY HUSBAND,
THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND BY SECOND REMINDER OF GOD’S
FAITHFULNESS TO ME. I ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE VOID THAT MY
JESUS HAS FILLED WITH ABOUNDING LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY. MOST OF ALL HE HAS FILLED ME WITH HIMSELF AND DEEPER
INTIMACY WITH HIM.I ALSO AM BECOMING MORE AWARE OF HIS MERCY FOR THE LOST AND THE SINNERS WE MEET EVERY DAY. THANK
YOU JESUS FOR YOUR HEALING LOVE.
TERRY
Thank you for your ugly sting whenever I think of the things I wish I had but don’t because you give me the opportunity to be thankful for the things God has given me now.
Sincerely, C
Thank you for rearing your ugly head at the times when I think I’ve got it all together. You remind me that I don’t, and that I need a Savior to be the source of my awesomeness, and not myself.
Infertility is difficult to be thankful for, but there are redemption stories. I dealt with secondary infertility and pregnancy loss, and then the gift of an incredible daughter from Vietnam, whose birthday matched a significant event from earlier in my life; God redeemed a grief that had been buried for years, and then blessed me with a birth child after her. His timing prevailed, even though I kicked and screamed and didn’t understand. You will have a tenderness and empathy for others that only those who have walked in your shoes understand.
Thank you Deep End of the Ocean. In you, I have learned to swim and discover a genuine compassion that comes from an uneasy awareness-a recognition of others in their splashing self-rescue attempts. Though you are not what I have prayed for nor longed for-your barnacles strip away the notion that it’s about me & set me free.
Thank you teaching me absolute genuine humility in my humanity. Thank you for showing me what kind of love children really need and teaching me how to some day be an amazing mother. Thank you for the great need to depend on God and God alone you have created. Thank you for giving me a strength to never stop fighting for the truth over lies. Thank you for making me cling to the unconditional love of God that my husband graciously shows me everyday. Thank you for training me to be able to help others heal from you one day.
Thank you for showing me that there is nothing, no matter how poorly begun, no matter how desperate and degraded, that Jesus cannot redeem. Thank you for showing me that only with God as the head of our household can our marriage prosper. Thank you for showing that in the darkest night of loneliest at the end of the longest hallway, the door opens on Him.
dear boyfriend’s cancer,
thank you for being used to bring people closer to God through your showing up. you are challenging my trust and faith in God to the max. thank you for being the tool in which we can develop perseverance which will produce character which will produce hope which does not disappoint.
Thank you for helping me to realize that I don’t need hair to be beautiful! Thank you for allowing God to instill in me an indentity and beauty that I never knew I had. Thank you for not being cancer.
Thank you for reminding me that “charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Jesus, thank you for the friends who have come along side me to encourage me and pray for me despite my unusual appearance.
Dear molestation,
Thank you for showing me that i can never lose my importance in the Father’s eyes, and my purity can always be redeemed. Also, you’ve shown me what REAL love is, the love that ONLY comes from Jesus
-Rachel
DEAR UNFAITHFULNESS OF MY HUSBAND,
THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND BY SECOND REMINDER OF GOD’S
FAITHFULNESS TO ME. I ALSO THANK YOU FOR THE VOID THAT MY
JESUS HAS FILLED WITH ABOUNDING LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY. MOST OF ALL HE HAS FILLED ME WITH HIMSELF AND DEEPER
INTIMACY WITH HIM.I ALSO AM BECOMING MORE AWARE OF HIS MERCY FOR THE LOST AND THE SINNERS WE MEET EVERY DAY. THANK
YOU JESUS FOR YOUR HEALING LOVE.
TERRY
Dear Bitterness-
Thank you for your ugly sting whenever I think of the things I wish I had but don’t because you give me the opportunity to be thankful for the things God has given me now.
Sincerely, C
Dear Depression,
Thank you for rearing your ugly head at the times when I think I’ve got it all together. You remind me that I don’t, and that I need a Savior to be the source of my awesomeness, and not myself.
Jen
Dear litigation,
You are teaching me how to love those who treat others unfairly; and yes, to love those who position themselves as enemies.
May your will be done…
Kathy
A shout out to Cheryl,
Infertility is difficult to be thankful for, but there are redemption stories. I dealt with secondary infertility and pregnancy loss, and then the gift of an incredible daughter from Vietnam, whose birthday matched a significant event from earlier in my life; God redeemed a grief that had been buried for years, and then blessed me with a birth child after her. His timing prevailed, even though I kicked and screamed and didn’t understand. You will have a tenderness and empathy for others that only those who have walked in your shoes understand.
Peace, Kathy
Thank you Deep End of the Ocean. In you, I have learned to swim and discover a genuine compassion that comes from an uneasy awareness-a recognition of others in their splashing self-rescue attempts. Though you are not what I have prayed for nor longed for-your barnacles strip away the notion that it’s about me & set me free.
This is an amazing post…
Dear Unanswered Questions,
Thank you that you are a part of my life. If you were not, you would not cause me to seek God fervently.
Jenny
Dear Childhood Abuse,
Thank you teaching me absolute genuine humility in my humanity. Thank you for showing me what kind of love children really need and teaching me how to some day be an amazing mother. Thank you for the great need to depend on God and God alone you have created. Thank you for giving me a strength to never stop fighting for the truth over lies. Thank you for making me cling to the unconditional love of God that my husband graciously shows me everyday. Thank you for training me to be able to help others heal from you one day.
Dear marriage problems,
Thank you for showing me that there is nothing, no matter how poorly begun, no matter how desperate and degraded, that Jesus cannot redeem. Thank you for showing me that only with God as the head of our household can our marriage prosper. Thank you for showing that in the darkest night of loneliest at the end of the longest hallway, the door opens on Him.
Peace –
Sheila
what a great idea, seth. 🙂 thanks for this.
dear boyfriend’s cancer,
thank you for being used to bring people closer to God through your showing up. you are challenging my trust and faith in God to the max. thank you for being the tool in which we can develop perseverance which will produce character which will produce hope which does not disappoint.
julia
Dear Alopecia –
Thank you for helping me to realize that I don’t need hair to be beautiful! Thank you for allowing God to instill in me an indentity and beauty that I never knew I had. Thank you for not being cancer.
Rachel
Dear Allergic reaction,
Thank you for reminding me that “charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Jesus, thank you for the friends who have come along side me to encourage me and pray for me despite my unusual appearance.
Dear molestation,
Thank you for showing me that i can never lose my importance in the Father’s eyes, and my purity can always be redeemed. Also, you’ve shown me what REAL love is, the love that ONLY comes from Jesus
-Rachel