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Every time you feel in God's creatures something pleasing and attractive, do not let your attention be arrested by them alone, but, passing them by, transfer your thought to God and say: "O my God, if Thy creations are so full of beauty, delight and joy, how infinitely more full of beauty, delight and joy art Thou Thyself, Creator of all!
- Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain

You can’t get to joy by making everything perfect. You can only get there by seeing in every imperfection all that’s joy.
-Ann Voscamp

Monday, July 18, 2011

Thankfulness

I've been having a hard time being thankful in the business of life lately. I sat down to post a terrific rant that turned into delightful praise and thankfulness. I'm so glad for the change of heart! Two paragraphs of rant erased in favor of the happy soul overflowing with blessing.

Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful garden with so much abundance growing in it. It is beautiful, and encouraging to see. It's a gift, and I am thankful.

Thank you, Creator, for the abundance of animal life on our little homestead. A gift as well. I am thankful.

Thank you, Father, for the blessing of husband and children. They're the most wonderful gift of all. Let me be always thankful.

Thank you for heat to grow tomatoes, little and yellow, big and red, straight from the garden warm and juicy trickling down my chin.

Thank you for the sparrows nest in the old greenhouse fan. Sound of happy baby birds getting full bellies. Pesky insects caught and eaten.

Thank you for summer's colorful pasture-lawn of clover purple, red, and white. Yellow trefoil warm and bright.

sprinkler spraying cool fountain over giggling little ones, toes in the grass, tongues on ice cubes

fences going up to keep awkward teenage chicks contained, scratching in grass, chasing each other over little bits of this and that

fuzzy bunnies with cool white fur

goats happy to see me waiting for sweet scented hay and nutty grain, sparing over the best treats heads butting with gentle thud

spinach pesto in the freezer waiting to grace winter's white with some summer green

summer salads with freshest greens

pea flowers, beet leaves, baby broccoli's

stories in the shade, impromptu skits

picnic table turned art studio, mixing colors, making rainbows

frisbee, kites, campfires, marshmallows

dirty feet, tanned faces, sun kissed hair

fairy hollows, tree forts, secret places

baths, fuzzy towels, clean sweet smelling snuggles, special songs, whispered bedtime prayers

fully lived days and nights of much needed refreshing rest

THANK YOU!

And, thank you all for your wonderful blogs that inspire me with your many strengths, wisdom and wonderful ideas. I love reading them all! You are a special group of ladies!!! :)

6 comments:

  1. What a lovely post, Patty! I think you just proved that it's all in the way we choose to think about things. It may be that the reason we get tired, worn to a nub, feeling always behind is because we have so much and so much to be thankful for.

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  2. I DO HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR SO THANKS FOR REMINDING ME.I PRAY GOD GIVES ME THE STRENGTH I NEED TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN FOR MY HUSBAND NO MATTER HOW TIRED OR GRUMPY I GET I NEED MY WITS ABOUT ME MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.HE KNOWS NOT THE TIME OR PLACE... BUT I THINK IT IS NOT FAR OFF.

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  3. I got such a blessing from your post, thank you!

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  4. Thanks for the inspiring post! Its nice to hear someone thankful instead of complaining. I think this post should be required reading before anyone starts their day! :)

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  5. I'm so glad you've enjoyed this post, ladies. It sure helped me yesterday, and I'm so glad my thoughts took the turn they did. Thanks to God!

    Judy, I'm sorry to hear about your husband. I'll be praying for you both, and for your families. May God bless all the time you have together.

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  6. A wonderful post! You have reminded ME to be thankful too when I feel like ranting! Hope the other pesky things settle down soon :)

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