"Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, give thanks and praise ~ Then you will discover the fullness of your life."
~Brother David Steindl-Rast~
"In everything give thanks..."
1 Thessalonians 5:18a
"In everything give thanks..."1 Thessalonians 5:18a
Traditionally the term "art" was used to refer to any skill or mastery. It also means the creation of something beautiful and significant; a skill that can be learned by study, practice, and observation; a medium of expression. I have been thinking of this word "art" in terms of the human heart and the application of gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation as mediums of expressions of love.
Usually when I create a piece of art I have a vision for that piece in mind that I want to communicate in a clear and noticeable way. Just as I want my art work to be understood, I want the signs of my love and appreciation to be clear and noticeable also. The state of being grateful is an appreciative awareness and thankfulness. These are skills that like art, can be learned by study, practice, and observation. These mediums, when applied to the human heart, transform our thinking, our emotions, and our actions. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is the creation of something beautiful and significant~ He"ART" work~ that enables us to count our blessings.
For quite some time now I have been practicing this He"ART" form of art by recording some of the things I am thankful for in a journal for that specific purpose. I list five things I am grateful for on that specific day. Having these in written form helps me to go back and remember just how richly blessed I am.
Thanksgiving is fast approaching and I want to put a few of my observation skills into practice by having a heightened awareness of all I have to be thankful for. Here are my five things for today:1.) A peaceful heart, quite mind, and emotions ~ deep abiding joy ~ in the midst of being busy.
2.) An ordinary day of life ~ a gift! (Laundry, toilets, and refrigerator science experiments included!)
3.) A little piece of land, where a little yellow house rests, where love grows best.
4.) Laughter and conversation with my friend, Sweet P.
5.) The windows of my house ~ living landscapes with new hues, views, and scenes everyday.
I invite you to join me in a little He"ART" work of loving wholeheartedly, giving thanks, and praise as well as discovering the fullness in your life. What five things are you grateful for today?
Blessings,
Miss Sandy
6 comments:
My five things for today are really what I am thankful for each day...
1) A family's generous spirit allowing me to live longer through gifting me their loved one's kidney
2) Our son surviving 3 brain tumour surgeries - and so much more - and still radiating out love and kindness to all
3)My husband's love and patient kindness
4)Being able to greet each day without even caring about the weather
5)Seeing beauty in the smallest things
A lovely idea Miss Sandy. I am thankful for:
1)the joy and peace that comes from a personal relationship with the Lord.
2)A loving, compassionate husband
3)Christian parents who steadfastly prayed for God to bless me and lead me in my decisions
4) Prayers and support of friends, both old and new
5) The ability to be thankful for each moment of the day and to appreciate the sights and sounds of miracles of God all around us.
I'm thankful for:
1.Heat. That may sound weird, but we just had our faulty furnace replaced and it's so nice to have warmth when we need it.
2.God's acceptance. No matter what people think of me, God loves me.
3.The chance to help others and be a voice for those who can't speak for themselves.
4.The word of God. When nothing else is sure, God's word is our foundation and our help.
5.My cat. Another odd one, I know, but he had an abcess on his face and is now feeling better after an emergency trip to the vet. He is a member of the family and we are glad to have him around.
This is such a great idea. I might do it on my blog too.
Lovely thoughts! A great reminder!
1. A warm home (its gotten quite cold here, now)and enough food.
2. Wonderful children who bring light and joy into my life (for the past 26 years)
3. Art! beauty expressed visually, musically, and kinetically
4. A wonderful extended family and friends who have supported and loved me through difficult times!
5. Most importantly, though, the gift of salvation through our Lord. Imagining life without that hope is bleak indeed.
Five things...only five things ? Your posts remind me of the great quantity of things to be thankful for..
1. Jesus, who gave Himself a Living sacrifice that we would be cleansed by His blood and approved by His Father because of it...
2. My family, for their health and love and protection, which I do NOT take for granted
3. The blessing of living in this country where I am still free to practice my faith openly
4. Abundant food
5. A home and all we have taken for granted in America to keep our home and a life that allows us so many blessings
I spoke at a dinner tonight. It was our ladies ministries ThanksMas (combination Christmas and Thanksgiving) event.
I used the same scriputure you posted from I Thess. 5:18. I used it in this way: "In every 'little' thing, give thanks." Using humor, I listed my top 10 little things that I am thankful for. Yes, they were trivial and certainly wouldn't be on my short list of BIG things I am thankful for such as Jesus, family, etc. but I am grateful and thankful for those little creature comforts and tiny tidbits that bring a little cheer to my life. Just the little things like coffee in the morning, sticky notes for sudden ideas, Dove dark chocolate with encouraging words, and the other minor matters!
~You're blog is pretty and inspiring.
Post a Comment