Joy is always possible as long as thanks is possible — and there is always, always, always something to be thankful for. ~ Ann Voskamp
As news started to break about the CoVid-19 pandemic last week, I could feel an ache rising in my soul. Not so much a fear of the virus itself but a deep, down ache for all of the ripples that I could see happening around me. For the people whose livelihoods would suffer greatly during the days of quarantine. For my daughter whose Senior Year is being thrown into oblivion without warning. For the singles in our church family for whom social distancing might mean going home to an empty house. For the recovering addicts in our church who rely (in part) on accountability and staying busy to help them stay sober. For the people who are quarantined with an abuser instead of loving family. For the nonprofits and churches who will surely see a dip in being able to provide their usual services. For the people who are afraid or at risk. For the young bride who is deciding what to do about her May wedding celebration. For the many servant-minded nurses I know who are on the front lines of this. For my shepherd-hearted pastor husband who is adding this to his list of “things they don’t teach you at seminary.”
The burden feels heavy. At one point in the week, the weight of trying to process all of those situations was overwhelming to me. Like I could feel it in my body and I was shutting down. People tell me that it’s because I’m a bit of an empath. I don’t know why it took me these many years into my adult life to understand that about myself but, there you have it.
What I do know is that my way forward out of that funk is to regroup and refocus. I can make a choice: dwell on the hard things and bear that burden myself OR look to the One who holds all things in His hands and is in the business of making all things new. I can acknowledge the hurt and the suffering without letting it crush me. I can surrender. The circumstances of this pandemic are not within my control. Often times, we think we’re in control when we’re really not. With this one, there isn’t even a little pretense of control. I don’t like these circumstances, but I have no ability to control them and they are unlikely to change in the near future. But what I can control is my response to the circumstances. I can look for God’s gifts in the midst of these difficult days. I can recall the beautiful things about my God in His Word and offer Him praise for His unchanging, steadfast character. I can remember all the past gifts and faithfulnesses – He has been giving good gifts to a stubborn and rebellious people for thousands of years. I can look forward to a God whose mercies are new every single morning. New day. New Mercies. Same faithful God.
So, I revived a practice that I had done years ago when Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts came out – counting the gifts in a journal. I guess I never totally stopped doing it… but I wasn’t nearly as faithful and I certainly wasn’t intentionally writing them down anywhere. Life and ministry have been hard these last 10 years or so. I was surviving but not always thirving. And, somewhere in there, purposefully counting gifts just sort of slipped off the radar.
About a month ago, God brought it back to mind as I was preparing to speak at a weekend retreat on Joy. And, then a week ago when I was feeling the weight of things shutting down in Ohio, He nudged me to lead our Redemption Chapel women to do the same thing.
And, just like that, we were having an impromptu Redemption Chapel Women’s Ministry Week of Thanksgiving. Each day I sent them a new prompt, a verse about thankfulness, and shared a tiny bit of my heart. Right there amidst of all the stupid memes and slanted news and political maneuvering and scary updates, in our little corner of the internet, a group of 300 or so women “gathered” to recount the gifts. New ones every day. And it was beautiful. In my mind’s eye, I imagine that it was like a big bowl of incense wafting up to God – offered on the altar of our lives in worship to Him.
The official “week of Thanksgiving” is over but I’m encouraging our women to continue on their own. Because this is a good practice. Not only does it glorify our God but it is GOOD FOR US. The science backs it up. The habit of intentionally cultivating gratitude and recalling it can help you: feel less depressed, stir up positive emotions, sleep better, reduce stress, express more compassion and kindness, and even have stronger immune systems. Doing it consistently actually reprograms your brain and makes it easier to see the gifts as a way of life – not just when you’re in crisis mode but all the time. Go figure – looking to and giving thanks to the Giftgiver is good for our souls… hmmm.
Maybe you’ll join us?
If you’re having trouble getting the gratitude muscle moving and you need some help, Ann Voskamp’s book is a gem. Her website also has a Joy Dare which gives you prompts each month for keeping your gratitude list. I have also heard wonderful things about Jennie Allen’s new book, Get Out of Your Head. (I haven’t read it myself yet so I’m giving it a tentative endorsement based on other reviewers I trust.)
If you just want to get started without links or books, here are some potential journaling prompts that might help get you thinking:
- Something that made you smile today
- A Simple pleasure
- Something funny that made you laugh
- Your favorite thing when you wake up in the morning
- Something you are good at doing
- An accomplishment you’re proud of
- What did you enjoy the most today?
- A favorite place you like to visit
- An act of kindness someone showed you
- A gift that is particularly meaningful
- A book you are grateful for reading
- What weather are you grateful for today?
- Modern inventions you are thankful for
- Something you take for granted
- Favorite things you like about your job or work
- Something you learned about recently
- Someone who made a positive difference in your life
- A favorite activity you enjoy doing
- Day of the week – What’s your favorite thing about Mondays? Fridays? The Weekend?
- Favorite websites you are grateful for
- Favorite author, artist, or musician
- Something that makes your life easier
- Favorite food you enjoy
- Something you use every single day
- Something you appreciate in nature
- Something you wear that makes you feel good {clothes, jewelry, makeup, etc.}
- Something that keeps you warm
- Something that helps you relax
- Something that you’re looking forward to
- Something that you have today that you didn’t have a year ago
- A happy memory
- Someplace you’ve been
- Something about your body or health
- Something or someone that makes you feel safe
- A way you are able to help other
- A friend
- A teacher or mentor
- A tradition
- A mistake or failure
Here’s to counting the gifts together – even in the midst of uncertainty.
Grace and peace to you as you do.
Thank you Shannon for writing and sharing all of this. I for one have been struggling to make sense of what’s happening all around the world and the havoc it’s caused in my own families life on multiple levels. This gave me ideas of how to turn the negatives into positives. We have a God that sees all of us that are hurting and even though we can’t see his plan, we can focus on the things he giving us that will help us get thru these difficult times.