1000 Blessings

I am accepting a challenge - a 1000 part challenge - and passing that challenge along to you. This is a passage that I read last night from a deeply moving blog, Holy Experience...

"A List of a Thousand Things, beginning with #1. I am daily jotting down items on my Thousand Gifts List, working, one-by-one, up to a thousand gifts. Not of gifts I want. But of gifts I have. As the moments slip down the hour glass of time, I am scratching down the gifts---just as they happen, as they arrive, as they are unwrapped---that He has given that make my life grace, the daily graces that He gives in an infinite number of ways, that stir me. "...windmills lazying in twilight's last breeze.... soft wool sweaters with turtle neck collars.... the faint smell of cattle and straw...." I am seeing things I have never seen before, atuned and aware of this constant, endless stream of gifts from His hand. I am one waking from slumber....from the stupor of indifference and ignorance. I have sight, fresh and keen---the world is new and full of His gifts. Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don't see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me."


Not each and every one of them is necessarily spiritual. These are just two of her "gifts" mentioned in her blog:
860. Leaning into the small of his back as we ride fields, wind in our hair;
868. Cherries ripening out in the orchard
Although, as you go, you'll find that each and every one, no matter what they are, really and truly are spiritual. (James 1:17 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.)

If you are up for the challenge... List 6 things each day and by Christmas you will have a list of 1000 blessings. Imagine Christmas Eve, around the fire, with the ones you love most dearly, and sharing with them something you were thankful for today, July 8th! No rules - just note each day the things you have or experience that you are thankful for. Let's together see how this changes our lives...

I've had about 24 hours to think of what the very first entries should be and I am still struggling because shouldn't they be what's first in my heart? Yet even as I write this sentence, I'm thinking of other things just as important or better ways to phrase them... So, here I go with the first six but not necessarily the top 6...

1) Grace and the longing between Christ and me.
2) A husband who WANTS to live for God WITH ME.
3) Parents who were strict and still don't waver in nudging me toward obedience.
4) Teachers who made me memorize verses as a child (because now they're hidden in my heart)
5) An abusive first marriage (because I was truly saved from it - physically, emotionally and spiritually and that has changed who I am)
6) Generally, for my children (because of them I want a holy life)

Please join me in counting our blessings...



11 comments:

  1. Polly,
    THIS IS FABULOUS!!! THANK YOU so much for sharing it with us....do you mind if I copy it and add it to my blog????
    Have a wonderful new week,
    Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters)

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  2. PS....Would you mind if I added you to my favorite blogs to read???
    Just let me know,
    Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Please, please do post it and pass it along!! I was in tears as I read it the first time. Tears of joy and tears of longing. Something in me has wanted to do this for a long time, I think. I'd love to be added to your favorites. I'll add you to mine also if it's ok. I'm new to blogging so I don't know all the etiquette. I check your blog every day as I've been praying for you and your husband and children. You are a blessing... Have a happy Monday! -Polly

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  4. I just adore Ann's Holy Experience Blog - it's so thought provoking.

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  5. I've got it posted over on my blog as well. I didn't realize at first that it was dated earlier than today so I may have to recalculate in order to make 1000 by Christmas. Hmmm...that would require arithmatic...

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  6. I must add it on my blog as well. This is too wonderful not to share and share and share! What a testimony to our wonderful Lord!

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  7. I also have added this to my blog!!
    I think it may be catching like wild fire!! Yet another blessing!!
    Hip-hip-Hooray!!
    Beautiful Blessings to YOU!!
    ~Kelly Maria

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  8. That is beautiful and worthy to do..... I may toss in my cap but I need to give it over to prayer first........ but I will love reading your list till Christmas.....

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  9. I just came accross your blog via The Graphics Fairy blog and I am so thankful. It looks like You posted this in 2007...n' it's still blessing people. Please, I'd love to share it on my blog... it's well worth repeating. I'd like to add your link as well? Let me know n' God bless,
    Elizabeth

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  10. Oh that is a lovely post Polly .You are just so full of (everything GOOD)
    big hugs, Patty(:)

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Something worth sharing...
"Blessed are those that can give without remembering and receive without forgetting."
-- Author Unknown

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