One-By-One…

One-By-One…9-15-25

I am Pollyanna. That is a positive person who can always tell you what I’m thankful for, and how you should be grateful as well. My husband will attest to this. He gets frustrated with me when he is telling me something that has broke, is wrong, or has happened. I will give him the, “but look at the bright side…”, speech. I will interject what he does have working, what else could have happened, or what is good about the situation. This doesn’t help when you are frustrated and want commiserating. Psalm 7:17, “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.”

I have started reading Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are. Now, let me tell you, this is right up my alley. I quickly decided that my husband and I need to start a “Grateful Jar”. This will be our jar to fill with things we are thankful, grateful, and blessed by and for. Of course, I’m already busily writing things to include in the jar. My husband, not as enthused as I, but knows me. I’m a proverbial dog with a bone. So, I will rethink my Grateful Jar and perhaps do a journal like Ann. The result for me will be the same. I will read the pages with each blessing. I will affirm my belief that God is good. There are truly not enough pages to contain His blessings. The peace that I have from knowing this leaves me without words, for once.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 states, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”.

Perhaps, when we focus on God’s goodness and mercies, we begin to push the doubts, fears, and worry from our minds and life. Our joy becomes complete, and our understanding becomes centered on Him. We begin to see that all things are working. We begin to believe stronger as our faith grows. “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Col. 2:7. We can count our many blessings. We can name them one-by-one. Then we will never be surprised when we see just how many things God has done for us.