I have decided to join a group reading Ann Voskamp's book, "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A DARE TO LIVE FULLY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE."
As we go through the book we are encouraged to answer some questions in theme form after we read each chapter. I like that. It'll make it easy to remember. I'm going to do mine here.
Seed: What has been planted as I read chapter 1? What has stirred in me?
"One life-loss can infect the whole of a life. Like a rash that wears through our days, our sight becomes peppered with black voids. Now everywhere we look, we only see all that isn't: holes, lack, deficiency."
Ann said it perfectly. What stirred in me was my focus on the losses in my life, especially the one that changed my life the most: my divorce and the loss of my intact family. It wasn't at all how I wanted my life to turn out and I can't even imagine the untold scars it left on the lives of my children.
Water: How am I nurturing what God desires in me? What is my responsibility for growth?
It is my responsibility (with God's help) to intentionally look for what was and continues to be gained as a result of the losses. If it were up to me I could easily be a life-long victim. I'd be a bitter and angry woman. I distinctly remember where I was on a walk in my neighborhood years ago when I was in the midst of it all. The Holy Spirit nudged me to see all of the good I had when my world was falling apart. I began to name them. "Well, at least I have ____ and _____. Turns out, I had and still do have a ton of good and am Blessed beyond measure. I just have to look around!
Bloom: What is the fruit I am seeing from what I have learned?
He has freed me from the constant negativity and given me energy to focus on the positive. He gave me the gift of real forgiveness. It's draining and all-consuming to focus on what is wrong instead of what is right. God has also given me compassion for others who are going through the same kind of loss. He alone allowed me to forgive the man who betrayed me and caused my broken family. I believe He wants me to share what He has taught me and to look for what I have instead of what I do not have.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.(Gal 5:22-23 KJV)
It's not too late if you want to read along with us!
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5 comments:
Beautiful post!
Ang,
You bless me with your writing and makes me want to take this road too. I am seeking God and being blessed with your thoughts today.
This is a Song I must Sing, Sylvia
Angie, I ordered the book from Amazon and it came last week. Oh, it is powerful! I have loved reading her blog for years and am always blessed. This book feels the same. Some books move you along in a rushing manner, things to see and things to do and when you finish a page you feel exhausted. This book however...makes me feel s if I am lying in a hammock with the cool wind blowing and I can read and stop and think and read some more.
I've finished 2 chapters. Thanks for this recommendation!
I agree, Tonja--I read a few pages of 1000 Gifts, then just want to sit there and bask in it a while. So beautifully written.
You do use your pains and sorrows as the song says to bring good, to help others in their marriages, to testify to the positive, not limp along in the negative. So thankful for your heart here on this blog. You touch more than you know.
I just read an excerpt for the book in Crosswalk.com this morning. Thanks for the suggestion for the online study! I will definitely try to join in and get the book!
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