On Gratitude

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We’ve been keeping a gratitude journal since the beginning of the year, just a simple, pocket-sized day planner. Each night before bed, we climb under the covers and I ask him, “What are your thankfuls today?” and I jot them down and in no time at all, we have an abundance of good things and good memories recorded.

Today seemed a fitting day to flip through it, so I did. It’s filled with all manner of things for which I am grateful – from the big (restored relationships) to the small (waffles). Many of them, not surprisingly, center around Katie. The things she’s accomplished, the funny things she’s done, those early weeks when she first started really sleeping through the night. There are accomplishments of our own, too – the good moments at work for Jonathan, the pieces I’ve had published for me – and time with friends, with family. Our lives are full of good things, good people.

We studied Revelation 5 yesterday at BSF – an incredible chapter, and one that fits so well with this holiday, as it reminds us of how much we’ve been given, how much Christ has done for us. As our teaching leader pointed out to us, no matter what our lives hold, no matter what pain or sorrow or difficulty we face, we can be thankful for this: that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And though it sounds like that should be a platitude, though it sounds like it is trite, it isn’t. It isn’t. It isn’t. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Amen.

What can there be, besides gratitude in the face of such goodness, such abundance? I deserve none of it. None of it. It is all grace.

I am so very grateful, for all of it. For the good food and the time with friends and family and the little girl and the man I get to love and to hold. For waffles and relationships and rain. For life. For laughter. For breath.

And, most of all, for this: that while I was yet a sinner, Christ died for me.

Amen.

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