Thanking God for the Given

                A couple of years ago I read “OneThousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp where she discusses the discipline of gratitude in light of communion—how bringing ourselves and our attitudes before God as a way of communion and worship. In that book, she narrates her personal journey of cultivating daily gratitude by writing a list of one thousand things she was thankful for.  After finishing the book, I was inspired to do the same. Tonight, after a difficult week of others’ joys—babies, engagements, work promotions—reminding me of my unfulfilled dreams—I knew I needed to revisit my own list.  It was encouraging to look back almost to the day in 2012 to things I listed as evidences of grace and reasons for gratitude—my grandfather’s voice, cinnamon scented pinecones, clean sheet night, no-lick envelopes, my pastor’s kid’s wisdom and thoughtfulness, eating popsicles—almost too many to number.

                In today’s social media world, it’s easy to get caught up in numbers—likes, followers, re-tweets, and “friends”. It’s a hamster wheel of futile attempts for adoration and applause—there will never be enough. Similarly, if I approach miles stones in life as simply accomplishments to check off my “life-long-to-do-list” I will always have the next thing in line—and will miss out on the blessing of the moment, the place I am. Companies like Apple have capitalized on the human compulsion for “the next big thing”—we are compelled to look ahead, to have the latest and greatest. But where does this really leave us?


Striving never ceases when our lives are based on what’s next instead of what is here.

 
As these thoughts permeated my disquieted and discontent heart this weekend, I was reminded of Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, who waited years to get married due to their personal convictions that marriage was not something to rush into because their single lives were purposed and full—they were expectantly patient—that God would work his will in his perfect timing, and that it was worth waiting for that. In one letter Jim related to Elisabeth:

 “… We may imagine what it would be like to share a given event and feel loss at having to experience it alone. But let us not forget—that loss is imagined, not real. I imagine peaks—when I think of doing things together, but let not the hoping for it dull the doing of it alone. What is, is actual—what might be simply is not, and I must not therefore query God as though he robbed me—of things that are not. Further, the things that are belong to us, and they are good, God-given, and enriched. Let not our longing slay the appetite of our living!” (shadow of the Almighty p.160)


Exactly. I am grateful for the reminders to thank God for the given—the many blessings I do have in my life today. I don’t want to miss out on today’s joys and purpose because I am too focused on future hopes and blessings. In another book, Elisabeth relates how she personally prays through the implications of The Lord’s Prayer, and when it comes to “our daily bread” she reminds her reader to “thank God for the given, [and to not allow] the not given to spoil it”. If I knew what God does, I would be grateful for where I am, what have, and what is withheld.  May I daily live in thankfulness for the given.