February 7, 2012 Hearing the Gratitude

February 7, 2012

Today you have to "hear" the glimpse of gratitude as that has been what the Spirit has revealed to me on my daily search for joy in all things.  The sounds of my day.  I've been mindful to truly "hear" today the gifts that He has poured upon me.

• A beeping coffee pot left programed by my husband to entice me to waking
• Soft snores of my son as I snuggled up close to welcome him to another beautiful day
• The absence of Jack's daily complaint about school as we have been diligent to pray over that sin area of his life together
• Recitation of Scripture
• The sound of a text from a friend sharing an encouraging scripture
• Giggles of girls
• The words of a friend over lunch confessing, encouraging, spurring one another on to the pursuit of Christ in all things
• Sounds of greeting to welcome Dad home
• The agreeable "sure Mom" when I asked Emma to help me clean the church
• "Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot" sung in the shower by my silly Annabeth
• The abundance of ninja-fights, ray guns, space ships and boxing matches that occur in my living room daily via one very imaginative little boy
• Such seemingly simple phrases, "How was your day?" "Thank you" "I love you"
• Whispered re-countings of the day ending with the soft prayers of children

As my fingers have worked to capture the gratitude in written form, the thanksgivings of each day thus far, there often seems to be a gentle whisper of correction as well.  On the journey to gratitude therein also lies the beauty of reminders of obedience.  There have been many noises today that I might not have found so lovely.  The bickering of children, the long story that was interfering with my task at hand, the electronic game, the constant humming during school (don't ask, it's a homeschool thing :), but do I only receive the noises I find refreshing and merely be annoyed or frustrated by the other sounds of my day?  Is there perhaps purpose in the sounds of my day that might otherwise merely aggravate, distract or bring me to quick temper?  Shouldn't I also take a moment to praise God for the ability to hear His corrective voice? And in those moments, draw upon His gift of grace as His love pours out of me upon those who are breaking up the "blessed silence" of my life?  To hear as the Spirit would have me hear, "giving thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thes 5:18)