Three Graces Overheard

In keeping with my goal to list "1000 gifts," the object of today's post is to list "three graces overheard."

The first two "graces" occurred at the post office.

1. There was a line of people waiting to be helped, and two young women ahead of me were engaged in "idle chatter." They were looking at a Victoria's Secret (swimsuit) catalog and discussing their fashion choices. It was obvious the two females knew each other quite well, and overhearing their conversation enabled me to witness the "grace of friendship."

2. Even though the line at the post office was long, there was no conversation among the patrons other than what the women directly in front of me were sharing. The customer who was being helped at the counter was talking to the postal clerk, but I was not close enough to make out the conversation. I did, however, hear the clerk laugh out loud in response to something the customer said, so I overheard the "grace of laughter."

3. The third grace for the day is difficult to define. My husband was listening to the television, which is something that is not always easy for me to tolerate. TV can distract me and even make me anxious at times, but it relaxes my spouse. And tonight, as I overheard the drone of "conversations" he was listening to in order to escape the stresses of his day, I was reminded how blessed I am to have a husband who comes home to be with me after a hard day of work. And in a roundabout way, the voices emanating from that electronic box caused me to be grateful for the "grace of covenant."

With gratitude for God's graces...
~Rebekah

A Gift Outside, Inside, On A Plate

The three gifts that I am especially grateful for today are...

Outside... I enjoy watching the snow as it falls gently from the heavens... floating slowly to the ground as though on a "magical" journey... and the earth's darkness is covered in a blanket of white. Snow. Pure and beautiful because it reminds me that God can cleanse us whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7).

Inside... the comfort of waking up in a warm bed... a warm room... a room with windows that allow me to see the beauty unfolding outside as the morning dawns... the ability to watch nature from the comfort of a space that protects me from the harsh forces of winter... and I know I am blessed.

On a plate... yummy goodness... baked potatoes with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and (vegan) sour cream... food that is pleasing both to the stomach and to the eye. God's abundance is amazing... and I am grateful.

In gratitude...
~Rebekah

Three Gifts Heard

In Ann Voskamp's book, "One Thousand Gifts," she challenges the reader to find blessings in everyday events. There is so much more to this, and I recommend the book to anyone who truly wants to embrace a life of gratitude. Ann's suggestion for the first day of January is to recognize "3 gifts heard." I am listing my "three gifts" below, along with something I saw today that made my heart smile. (I wish I could post photos to illustrate each point, but I'm having camera difficulties. I hope to be able to add photos later.)

My Three Gifts Heard

1. Leaves rustling on the trees... small, brown sentries that refused to leave their posts despite the harsh winter winds that made victims of most of their comrades... and I am reminded to hold onto my Saviour no matter how hard the winds of life blow.

2.  A canine's "song"... Harley is a dog who appeared out of nowhere one day and walked straight into my heart. His love is unconditional, and the excitement he feels when he sees me is illustrated through his happy sounds (song!) and body language. Again, I am reminded of my relationship with the Lord, and how I need to be "making a joyful noise unto Him" every day. Am I as excited about spending time with God as Harley is about spending time with me?

3.  My husband's voice... as the new year arrived, and he wished me "happiness," I realized what a comfort his voice, his presence, is to me. I pray I will never take my husband for granted and that God will help me be the wife described in Proverbs 31.

Lastly, and as I stated at the beginning, I must share something I saw that truly did make my heart smile today. As I watched the birds at the feeders this afternoon, I noticed one feathered friend on the snow-covered windshield of our van, which was parked close to the feeders. As he scratched through the snow on the glass, he moved up and down as though he were dancing. His actions were entertaining, and his dance left little bird tracks all over the window. The combination of his movements and the trail he left behind was evidence to me of a God who loves me enough to provide reminders through the things He knows are dear to my heart.

I pray that 2014 is full of God's love and an abundance of things that make your heart smile.

In gratitude...
~Rebekah