Wednesday, January 27, 2010

List of Gifts

When I was young (and I mean pretty young, like between the ages of 9 to 14), my brother and I would go to a camp each summer to spend time with our fellow peers that we knew from church.

Personally, I loved going to this camp. I loved swimming in the lake, climbing on the rope's course, learning fun songs, sleeping in my comfy, purple sleeping bag... You know, all the things that made camp, well, camp.

I have plenty of fond memories from this camp. One in particular includes my comfy, purple sleeping bag.

One evening, as we were all trying to calm down from our "away from our parents, while with our friends" high, our counselor was attempting to coax all twelve, 13-year-old girls into our bunks with hopes that we would soon drift off to sleep. (What a job! They couldn't pay me enough.) She was calmly explaining that she understood how excited we all were. She remembered the excitement that she had felt when she would herself come to camp several years before. She said, "When I can't sleep I always count the things that God has given me that I am thankful for. Once, I counted up so many things I got to the nails that hold my house together."

Wow! What an amazing thought. We have so much to be thankful for, from the most obvious things like our family and friends, to the least obvious things like nails that hold our homes together.

As I began my own attempt to count my blessings, I realized that my list was as endless as if I were counting sheep instead. I'm not even sure where I got to that night, but I know I only skimmed the surface of the swell of blessings that God has given me.  

Still today, years and years later, I remember that night. At times when I can't fall asleep (like at Christmas... yes, I am a big kid), I count my blessings and it always does the trick. Even if I woke up and started my list in the morning as opposed to late at night, I still would never be able to fully make my way through all God's wonderful gifts.  

Here are a few things that I am specifically thankful for today...


A friend who has loved me unconditionally, no matter what for the past five years


A full refrigerator thanks to a morning trip to the grocery store


A warm bed that I made up this morning after a good night's sleep


A reminder that the simplest of things make me happy

I have so many, many things to be thankful for. 
What gifts has God given you today?

3 comments:

  1. Although Aiden has been difficult today and refused to take a nap until just recently and I have been wanting to pull my hair out, I am so very thankful to even have a baby when so many people out there can't. I am thankful to have a beautiful home, even if I couldnt get it clean today. I am thankful to have food in the pantry, even though stress about cooking. It's funny that the things we worry about and stress over are the very things that make us so greatful!

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  2. Oh I used to love camp! :) And a full fridge is such a great feeling. Have a lovely weekend! xoxo

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