This is my favorite time of year, Thanksgiving. It’s where we focus not on what we want, but what we have, and we give thanks. There was a season, five years ago, I was feeling discontent, bored, negative, and critical. I was not my usual perky, positive self. I knew something had to change. I was about to begin a small Bible Study in my home with a few friends and we were to study One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I’d heard a lot of buzz about the book, so I checked it out.

I wrote this in my journal the day we started.

“Dear Papa, I’ve felt so frustrated with myself lately. I’m in a major funk and I need to get out of it. Everything feels grey. I started the One Thousand Gifts study today with some friends. It was great to have a living room full of women talking about the things of God. Maybe that’s been my problem. I need to focus more on You and less on myself. I suggested we come up with 1000 gifts by the end of five weeks. 200 a week, 30 per day! (I’m such an overachiever!) Whew, that’s a lot and I’m nervous!! Seeing the gifts You give us helps us see Your love. Seeing You begins with Thanksgiving. I thank you for who You are and all the gifts You give each day. Open my eyes to see them. I’m starting my list today, anxious to see how You will change me. I praise you, Lord.” (Part of my first list is in the photo above.)

I’m happy to report I finished my list in 5 weeks and I’ve continued this practice of writing the gifts. Not all of us met our goal, and one surpassed the goal. However, we were all changed by this discipline. and I remember fondly how my perspective shifted after practicing this act of list making. It takes practice and keen observation to see all the gifts around us. Often i had assumed, when i have something great happen , I would be thankful. It’s actually the complete opposite. It’s the thankful who have joy.

“The real problem of life is never lack of time. The real problem in life-in my life-is lack of thanksgiving.”-Ann Voskamp

There’s something powerful about taking pen to paper, and writing your list. Sure, you can think of things to be thankful for, but it won’t be as meaningful. You might be able to think of ten things quickly. You could say: family, job, God’s love, your kids, but soon you’ll run out of things. The more gifts you add, the more thankful you will feel. I know it seems hard and you’re asking, what do I put on the list? That’s the thing, you have to be very specific. You have to pause and see what God has placed right before you. Perhaps it’s your morning coffee, or the way the sun hits your shiny wood floor? It could be how you felt as you held your hubby’s hand on the couch, or your sweet baby’s laughter. How about something from God’s Word or a character attribute? How about a memory or meaningful conversation? Keep lists everywhere: on your phone, by your night stand, a notebook on the kitchen counter, in your journal. It will feel forced at first, and almost silly, but the more you pause and pay attention, the more gifts you will see around you. Thanksgiving really is a matter of focus or attention. It’s so easy to focus on what’s wrong or what we lack. Could our whole perspective change if we simply opened our eyes to the gifts God has placed in front of us?

When we see the gifts and name them, we see God. Isn’t that what we want? To see Him more, to know He’s near? This discipline of pausing, and making the list will change us. It will enlarge our capacity to see God everywhere and in everything. When the hard days come, it will help us see there is still so much good in our lives.

Being thankful increases our joy, restores our hope and helps us feel closer to God. What if this year you made it a habit? Don’t celebrate one day when you can create a lifestyle of thanksgiving.

I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and will glorify Your name forever.” Psalm 86:12