When my granddaughter  receives a present,   she pulls off  paper and bow, looks at her surprise with a giggle of pleasure, saying a sweet  “Thank you!”  The unwrapping and happy surprise come naturally.  She has learned to say Thank You.

I have learned  this, too.

If I can begin and  end  my  day  with  gratitude, then  the gift of that day has been carefully unwrapped, examined, delighted in, and acknowledged.  God has given me a new day and I can choose  to meet it by expressing my gratitude for the life and breath that lets me live it, as well as for work to do and strength to do it.  Before I sleep again, I can choose to thank Him for what my day has held before I claim His peace for rest and refreshment.  Those two bookends hold up my busy days and increase my awareness of being awash in grace.

Years ago I kept a gratitude journal, in which I wrote 3 things I was thankful for every day.  I was recently given another calendar/ gratitude journal, this one leaving 5 spaces for each day.   I love doing this.  I like rereading those entries, because I am reminded of how many things I find for which to be thankful .  Seldom are these related to possessions, although often for relationship.  I am grateful for Plenty.  I am grateful for enough.  Gratitude and Contentment don’t mean the same, but they sure do look alike, so I am sure they are kin.

January 8, 2010:  Today, I am grateful for a friend’s hug, herbs still growing in my January garden, starting a new book, making a memory with Skye and Lauren last night (movie night:  Sound of Music), and these smiles…