Day 13 - Three things about yourself you are grateful for
I have to admit. Yesterday, I was secretly doing a dance that I took off bloggings on Sundays. Maybe I can get out of it! Maybe I can just skip over #13 and move on to #14. But no, that's cheating. Sort of.
At any rate, yesterday's joy was hard. Three things you are grateful for about yourself.
Think of it in terms of the most dreaded interview question: "so tell me about yourself". Usually by then your hands are cold and clammy. Your mind goes blank and the butterflies that were in your stomach immediately launch upward and burst out with the answer, "I like movies". Seriously. As if that will help you get the job.
Thankfully, I've had 24 hours to mull over the answer!
So once the blank passed and the butterflies returned home, I found 3 things I was grateful for about myself
Numero uno - I am good a planning parties. I am grateful for this because of our tres ninos! I love planning parties, unfortunately, our checkbook does not allow for all my whims in party planning.
Numero dos - I am creative. I am grateful for this because it aids in the party planning, helps me decorate our home, I like to make gifts for people, and gives an outlet for "me" time.
Numero tres - I am grateful that I have curly hair. I like it.
So there you have it! Take it or leave it.
------
Chapter 2 in One Thousand Gifts.
I finished it a few days ago. It's the second time I've read it.
Here is the basic essential:
Eucharist
It is known to us today as the Lord's Supper or Communion.
Ann points out the Greek behind the word. I love the Greek. It has so much more meaning than our words. I had 2 semesters of it in college. Fun stuff. Greek. Yeah. I'm pretty sure there is an embarrassing video of me somewhere out there in the great unknown. Let's just say it has to do with learning Greek, a chipmunk voice, and a hall full of funny college girls.
Word: Eucharist, meaning thanksgiving. Root word: Charis, meaning grace. Derivative word: Chara, meaning joy.
Have mercy, get the book, people. Read it. Read it till your eyes are red.
I don't even know to summarize her words. Here are a few quotes: (don't blank out, you might miss something!)
Page 33, "Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks?"
Page 37, "...every time I take Communion? In a very tangible, physical act, aren't I enacting my thanksgiving for His pain?" The Eucharist invites us to give thanks for dying."
Page 39, "We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks."
"Thanksgiving is inherent to a true salvation experience; thanksgiving is necessary to live the well, whole, fullest life."
The answer is yes. Your keys are where you left them and your car has gas. It already knows the way to the bookstore.
Giving thanks - in everything - brings joy. Full joy. The abundant life. But that's the hard part, the everything. I know I mentioned this in a previous blog. My misconception with joy. Paul had it figured out. That joy, giving thanks, contentment was something learned.
Learning. What am I learning about joy and giving thanks? That sometimes you have to seek it. You have to look for it. You have to do something.
And that leads us to chapter 3.
What are you doing about finding joy?
P.S. Totally off subject, but how do you feel about stripes? Particularly wide stripes, on a wall, in a house?
At any rate, yesterday's joy was hard. Three things you are grateful for about yourself.
Think of it in terms of the most dreaded interview question: "so tell me about yourself". Usually by then your hands are cold and clammy. Your mind goes blank and the butterflies that were in your stomach immediately launch upward and burst out with the answer, "I like movies". Seriously. As if that will help you get the job.
Thankfully, I've had 24 hours to mull over the answer!
So once the blank passed and the butterflies returned home, I found 3 things I was grateful for about myself
Numero uno - I am good a planning parties. I am grateful for this because of our tres ninos! I love planning parties, unfortunately, our checkbook does not allow for all my whims in party planning.
Numero dos - I am creative. I am grateful for this because it aids in the party planning, helps me decorate our home, I like to make gifts for people, and gives an outlet for "me" time.
Numero tres - I am grateful that I have curly hair. I like it.
So there you have it! Take it or leave it.
------
Chapter 2 in One Thousand Gifts.
I finished it a few days ago. It's the second time I've read it.
Here is the basic essential:
Eucharist
It is known to us today as the Lord's Supper or Communion.
Ann points out the Greek behind the word. I love the Greek. It has so much more meaning than our words. I had 2 semesters of it in college. Fun stuff. Greek. Yeah. I'm pretty sure there is an embarrassing video of me somewhere out there in the great unknown. Let's just say it has to do with learning Greek, a chipmunk voice, and a hall full of funny college girls.
Word: Eucharist, meaning thanksgiving. Root word: Charis, meaning grace. Derivative word: Chara, meaning joy.
Have mercy, get the book, people. Read it. Read it till your eyes are red.
I don't even know to summarize her words. Here are a few quotes: (don't blank out, you might miss something!)
Page 33, "Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks?"
Page 37, "...every time I take Communion? In a very tangible, physical act, aren't I enacting my thanksgiving for His pain?" The Eucharist invites us to give thanks for dying."
Page 39, "We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks."
"Thanksgiving is inherent to a true salvation experience; thanksgiving is necessary to live the well, whole, fullest life."
The answer is yes. Your keys are where you left them and your car has gas. It already knows the way to the bookstore.
Giving thanks - in everything - brings joy. Full joy. The abundant life. But that's the hard part, the everything. I know I mentioned this in a previous blog. My misconception with joy. Paul had it figured out. That joy, giving thanks, contentment was something learned.
Learning. What am I learning about joy and giving thanks? That sometimes you have to seek it. You have to look for it. You have to do something.
And that leads us to chapter 3.
What are you doing about finding joy?
P.S. Totally off subject, but how do you feel about stripes? Particularly wide stripes, on a wall, in a house?
Comments