Ann Voskamps’s One Thousand Gifts took the Christian women’s market by storm, but maybe that’s not all good. Ann aroused a swell of gratitude, of learning to count small things as reasons for thanks, of noticing God’s gifts we once overlooked. But in our hurry to announce all of the small things we appreciate, we missed something ugly about ourselves. We rarely express genuine gratitude for blessings, because we EXPECT blessings.
What we expect from God
Carving a path through transition makes you realize that temporary blessings are … temporary. When paychecks run out and bills take their place, when future plans are flimsy and obligations unsure, our expectations surface. Especially for those of us doing life in developed, western cultures, our expectations start to sound like … a whine. A closet to store my stuff, black boots during boots season, gas in my tank, mums on my porch, schooling for my kids, light bulbs in every room, and good quality coffee. It’s ugly, but I realize I DO have high expectations.
What God promises us
When I was helping with Kids Camp for the slums in India, I took the job of gathering shoes as children arrived. I slipped off old plastic flip flops from dirty toed feet and helped untie worn tennis shoes from boys in shorts and from girls dressed in old, frilly dresses. Shoes and clothes alike looked like rejects from donation boxes or on the roadside. After the floor was full of an odd mix of worn footwear, a gangly boy came down the stairs. I looked up to see his maroon shirt hanging on his thin frame; his white teeth glowed. But when I looked down to take his shoes, his feet were bare. Everyone had dressed up to come to Kids Camp, but he had no shoes to put on. A brief glance revealed his embarrassment, for even the poor have dignity. I expected shoes on his behalf, but he had none. I smiled at him, but inside I wondered if God was supplying the thin boy’s needs too. Then God whispered, “Do you know what a ‘need’ really is? Trust Me to know what a ‘need’ is.”
Women who live with high expectations respond with low levels of gratitude. If we don’t see something ugly in ourselves very often, we probably aren’t seeing ourselves honestly. Our ugliness points out God’s grace, so we shouldn’t fear facing it. High expectations are those above and beyond what God promises, and He promises so much.
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
How to be truly grateful
When we adjust our expectations to what God has said He will do, supply our NEEDS, we are more likely to erupt in true gratitude. A thousand times and more. And then when He surprises us out of the abundance of His generous hand we swell with praise.
Why have we been so amazed that Ann Voskamp came up with 1000 gifts? Maybe we’re amazed because we realize we are all given abundant gifts and we missed it. We should all be able to come up with 1000 gifts! For me, seeing needs in the world opens my eyes to blessings at home. Now, traversing transition awakens my awareness to gifts to appreciate.
Let’s not lose our sense of praise for God’s sufficient provision.
[…] Somewhere out of the swirl of my fears, I heard my instructor’s voice, “Are you okay? It’s okay Julie. I’ve got you. I won’t let you fall. I’ve got your rope, and I’ll hold you tight.” And he did. I came down in one piece, with a few new fears and feelings to conquer. Being let down does that to you. What do you expect? But God will not let go. What do you expect? […]