List
Who can list the glorious miracles of the Lord? Who can ever praise him enough? ~ Psalm 106:2
“I tell you I’m going crazy,” the woman shouted to her mentor.
He gently replied, “Here is a yellow pad and here is a ballpoint pen. I want you to write down your blessings.”
She refused, overcome by the despair that had seized her soul.
But he didn’t give up. “Think of the millions of people all over the world who cannot hear a choir, or a symphony, or their own babies crying. Write down, I can hear — Thank God. Then write down that you can see this yellow pad, and think of all the millions of people around the world who cannot see a waterfall, or flowers blooming, or their lover’s face. Write I can see—Thank God.”
And so she began to make her list. As she reached the last line of that yellow notepad, clearly, “the madness was routed.”
From then on Maya Angelou wrote all of her books and poems on yellow notepads, saying, “As I approach the clean page, I think of how blessed I am.”
Even science has shown that practicing gratitude is good for you. According to one study, those who keep gratitude journals:
• exercised more regularly
• reported fewer physical symptoms
• felt better about their lives as a whole
• were more optimistic about the upcoming week
Do you have a gratitude list? Why not? You could even start right here:
I am grateful for _________________________________________
I am grateful for _________________________________________
I am grateful for _________________________________________
However you choose to record God’s goodness and faithfulness to you, my prayer is that it will enrich your life, bubbling over to all those you encounter.
BENEDICTION: My child, lists are good as reminders—of what to do, and also of what I have already done. When you begin counting your blessings, I think you will see a pattern of My mercies. Never ending. Always fresh. And as the list grows, so will your faith.
Every Blessing, Lucinda
“Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity and Strength”
©2022 Lucinda Secrest McDowell www.LucindaSecrestMcDowell.com
Lucinda Secrest McDowell is a storyteller and seasoned mentor who engages both heart and mind while “Helping You Choose a Life of Serenity & Strength.” She has authored 16 books including “Soul Strong – 7 Keys to a Vibrant Life” , “Life-Giving Choices – 60 Days to What Matters Most,” “God’s Purpose for You,” and “The Courage to Write.” (Purchasing my books here benefits me as an Amazon associate.) She writes from “Sunnyside” cottage in New England and shares encouraging words weekly at LucindaSecrestMcDowell.com
Want to read all of the “Grace & Gratitude Summer Blogs”? Click HERE to read as each one goes live. These 14 weeks of blogs — adapted from Lucinda’s award-winning book “Ordinary Graces” — come out each Wednesday morning June 1st through August 31st. Thanks for reading. Click HERE to add your email to get blogs weekly in your in box.
Yes, Cindy, that is one habit I developed years ago and still make my gratitude list daily. You’re on it.
Love & Prayers,
Yvonne
Great reminder, and what a surprise to discover the writer you were talking about was Maya Angelou! Thank you for sharing!
This 🌄 morning I was counting all the ways my mother taught me. I am very grateful for her teaching me about Jesus. Her example to always be ready to pray is with me now. I remember her willingness to serve God readily. I am blessed to have her as a mother.
“Count your many blessings, name them one by one; Count your many blessings, see what God has done!” Great advice then and now.
I’m thankful for women like you who offer encouragement. I’m especially thankful for the devotional, The Courage to Write, compiled by many writers from your reNEW retreat. It’s been a daily source of encouragement to me. A heartfelt thanks to each contributor.
good reminder, Cindy!
thanks!