Counter of Gifts

I've seen glimpses of it. That beautiful, sometimes invisible thread woven into the seams of everyday life; the way God's goodness embroiders itself upon every moment. Sure, I've stopped to marvel at His craftsmanship on occasion; sometimes His goodness is hard to ignore. But if I'm honest with myself, I miss the everyday evidence of God's grace far too often.

It's easy to give thanks for the big moments, isn't it? Like hearing the words "you're hired." Or walking down the aisle. Or holding a healthy baby in your arms for the first time. These moments are beautiful and life-changing - gifts to be treasured. But they are also rare.

Most of life's tapestry is adorned with moments that seem far more ordinary.

Is any moment really ordinary, though? Consider the way a beautiful sunrise can make you catch your breath. Or the way the earthy smell of coffee awakens your senses though your body longs to sleep. Or the way you sit down with loved ones for supper, carving out a small space of time together. These things happen every day, and most of the time we pay no attention to their passing. Yet these things - yes, a sunrise, coffee, and supper - are little gifts liberally bestowed upon us by a gracious God.

Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts has challenged me to find the thread of God's goodness woven into daily life. And I can feel a change. In the way I spend more time in prayers of thanksgiving. In the way I feel grateful for things I used to ignore. I'm becoming a seeker of grace, a counter of gifts.

Here's a peek at some of the gifts growing around us lately. New life is pushing through the soil that was covered in snow just a few short weeks ago. Every spring strikes me as a miracle!