Receiving the Joy
Canon 5D Mark ll, 16-35L, 2.8 aperture, 1/800 shutter, 800 ISO
What do we have to lose by being grateful? Why is it so hard to count up the blessings in our lives and so easy to list the things that are going wrong?
I have been pondering the whole idea of being grateful, spurred by my reading of Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts. What is it that I am holding onto in my tight little palms when I am unhappy and feeling forgotten? Ann sheds some light on this question. ” Joy is a flame that glimmers only in the palm of an open and humble hand. In an open and humble palm, released and surrendered to receive, light dances, flickers happy. The moment the hand is clenched tight, fingers all pointing toward self and rights and demands, joy is snuffed out.”.
It is a near physical feeling, this pull to keep hands clenched tight, holding onto my list. My list of things gone wrong. My list of demands. My list of rights. The tension all melts away when I open my hand. Opening to let go. To give thanks. I can feel it, when I open my hands, the breath enters into my lungs, my spirit, again. I raise my face to the sun, and breathe. I open my mouth and say “thank you”.
One by one, the gratitude list begins. The birds, rustling in the reeds, the breeze tousling my hair, the land I am walking on. I can see the old tree with her elbow-like limbs lifting her hands as well. She has already learned the secret to joy. The sun beams through her branches. With my hands now open, I can finally receive. Receiving by giving thanks. It is God’s upside-down inside-out way. A fisted hand cannot give or receive anything good, but an open hand is something He can work with.
I left the old list crumpled on my way to the gates of joy.
James 1:7~ “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Psalm 100:4 ~ “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Sisters Three
Unfolding
Giving Thanks
1 Comment
Mary Anne, this is beautiful and so true. There IS so much joy in leaving our hand open to give generously and to allow God to fill it with His Blessings. This is truth. Love the pictures. They are a reminder that spring is just around the corner. That is always a blessing. Thanks.