In 2006 my daughter and grandchildren gave me a ‘journal for your gratitudes’. My daily three-line entries go something like this: first, I write a one-line prayer addressing one of my reoccurring life themes—open my heart, keep me from judging, lead me to pray without ceasing, keep me conscious of Your presence; next, a line of gratitudes—for the sunrise, morning coffee, good health of friends and family, positive world news; finally, an affirmation or truth for me— good begets good, it is hard for me to pray in the evening.
Yesterday, in the place of gratitudes, I began recording what I hear God calling me to do, which, no surprise, is turning out to be more of a challenge than writing what I’m grateful for.* But I figure that if I pray for God’s guidance, I’d better listen to it, and respond. In the short span of two mornings, I’ve heard that I should visit someone for whom I never seem to have time, that I am, once again, being distracted by too much local sports on TV, and that I need to stop complaining that I have to wash the kitchen floor. On it goes, and truthfully I must confess that I don’t always want to hear what God has to say to me. I want the final word. But that’s not what gratitude is all about.
* A year ago, at the back of the journal I started keeping a list of gratitudes; am now up to 1085.
Yesterday, in the place of gratitudes, I began recording what I hear God calling me to do, which, no surprise, is turning out to be more of a challenge than writing what I’m grateful for.* But I figure that if I pray for God’s guidance, I’d better listen to it, and respond. In the short span of two mornings, I’ve heard that I should visit someone for whom I never seem to have time, that I am, once again, being distracted by too much local sports on TV, and that I need to stop complaining that I have to wash the kitchen floor. On it goes, and truthfully I must confess that I don’t always want to hear what God has to say to me. I want the final word. But that’s not what gratitude is all about.
* A year ago, at the back of the journal I started keeping a list of gratitudes; am now up to 1085.
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