Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thankful Day

So, Thanksgiving... an entire day devoted to thankfulness, with the intention of continuing to maintain a thankful attitude in the future no matter what the circumstances and how difficult the days.

This past spring, I finally read One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp.  Favourite bloggers of mine have raved about it for a while, so I finally jumped on the bandwagon with gritted teeth [I dislike reading popular books, unless they qualify as nerdy --pride, I know!] and read Ann's book too.  For those of you who aren't familiar with it, in a nutshell, it's a challenge to cultivate gratitude and thankfulness: "a dare to live fully right where you are".

I began to compile my own list of gratitude, inspired by Ann's challenge to write down a thousand things to be thankful for.

Does it all sound a bit shallow? "That's nice for her, living in her sunshiny homeschooling bubble on her Canadian prairie farm, but for me, here in the stinking city, it just doesn't work!"  Yes, I thought so too. When I finally broke down and read the book, within three or four pages I'd forgotten all about my little fits of prejudiced judgment.

Anyway, I'll leave reviewing One Thousand Gifts until another day.

In honour of Thanksgiving Day, which is now known simply for the enormous dead poultry carcass that we cook and stuff ourselves with, I'll share from my list of thankfulness, dipping in and out as it seems appropriate.

Clean-smelling smoothness of new book's pages.  Squeezy Mr J's clinging hug.  Making wrong things right.  White dress to tie-dye blue as sky.  Twin towers of cumulonimbus clouds.  Tiny fairy lights valiantly illuminating dark window.  Stories not yet told.  Other stories told many times over.  Words of encouragement spoken in love.  Wrapping up in a blanket, hearing outside gale.  A three-year-old listener. Soft golden woven Grandmother bedspread.  Happy laughing shouting resourceful sons.  Sunshine beaming through cloud gaps.  Scrap of flannel and ribbon "banklet" loved so dearly.  Old books enjoyed by a younger generation.  Candlelit bonfire of tea-lights in glass jars.  Grace of God that covers the darkness.  Seven-year-old bruised grubby brave knees.  Old toys brought out to grace newer childhoods.  Scriptures written on stones.  Sharp fresh scent of just-pulled carrots.  Crackling fire spitting heat into cooling air.  Vanilla-scented candle burning creamy comfort. Summer's bunting fading in the autumn light.  Early-morning Scrabble on a birthday.  Cold toes, clean and worn smooth from bare feet in sand.  Homemade pumpkin spice latte made with fresh almond milk.  Faded blue grey rose toned autumn sky.  Starting a well-loved book for the umpteenth time. Quiet reminders of the preciousness of present.  Time... I have it in front of me today.

The murmur of the everyday and the reminder to seize it anyway.

4 comments:

  1. This is a beautiful list, Erin, and your writing is so vibrant and alive. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

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  2. Thanks, Melissa. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, too! :)

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  3. I loved this post. I loved your list especially making wrong things right. I love that. We had our thanksgiving ( in Canada) already but Happy Thanksgiving to you :) The homemade pumpkin spice latte made with almond milk? YUMMMM.. sounds amazing. I have Ann's book in transit at the library. I love her blog so can't wait to read the book.

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  4. Thanks, G! I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the book after you've read it! :)

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