
Do you ever visit my blog on Mondays when I post about thankfulness and think:
“Well, it’s easy for her. I’d have lots of things to be thankful for, too, if I lived out in the country on a beautiful piece of property!”
It’s true that I often list things that I am thankful for that are found here on the farm:
451. A newly discovered tree full of pears
369. The stillness here in this place
281. dinner growing well
That really doesn’t seem fair, does it? Let’s imagine that aspect of my life doesn’t exist and remove it from my list for a second.

“But you have 5 beautiful children. I would be so thankful to be blessed with just ONE! I wish that I had the opportunity that you have to have children. It’s easy for you to be thankful with all of the wonderful things surrounding children!”
It’s true that I often list things that I am thankful for regarding my children.
So, just for today, let’s pretend that I don’t have any. My list would definitely be a lot shorter.

“What about your hard-working, loving husband? Not everyone has such a dependable man, you know. I would have so many more things to add to a list of blessings if my husband was more worthy.”
It’s true. I am blessed with a wonderful husband that I don’t deserve and things that he does or says or is find their way onto my list of blessings.
So, let’s pretend I am an unmarried, childless woman living downtown. What if, beyond that, I’m living in fear of losing my job because of a chronic illness? Or what if I live in literal fear of my neighborhood?
A thankful list wouldn’t really be practical for me, would it?
What if this described my life?
“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, inperils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily…”
Would my list ever make it to 1,000 gifts?
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When I read the above list of some of the things that the Apostle Paul went through, it causes me to stop and wonder at these verses.
Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. – Acts 16:22-25
What?!?!
Singing praises in that kind of life?
At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. - Ephesians 5:20
What could possibly be on Paul’s thankful list?
How about for #1 : The assurance of God’s love
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8: 31-32, 37-39
And perhaps for #2: Mental peace
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6
Or perhaps he listed for #3: Disciples who have housed and fed me along my journeys
Or even,
#4. Beautiful views on the Mediterranean Sea off the side of the boat

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What about David in the Bible, who had to live in caves for many years while being man-hunted by Saul and his soldiers?
Shouldn’t we find his thankful list to be pretty short?
Let’s imagine…
David’s One Thousand Gifts List:
#1. The awesome skies at night
When I consider Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars,
which You have set in place,
what is man that You are mindful of him,
the son of man that You care for him? - Psalm 8:3-4
#2. Your great mercy toward me
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy. – Psalm 145:8
#3. How You raise me up when I fall
The Lord upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down. – Psalm 145: 14
#4. Food
The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing. – Psalm 145: 15-16
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When I read about these men and imagine what their thankful lists could have been like, I realize that even a human being stripped down to the bare essentials – water, food, air – can still find things to be thankful for.
How much more can we, with all the physical and spiritual blessings that we enjoy, cultivate an attitude of thankfulness?
Have you started keeping a list of 1,000 gifts that God has given to you? It is a practice that can completely change your life!
Why not start today by sharing a gift in the comments section below? A gift that is found right where you are today in the life that you’ve been blessed to take part in!
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To read my thankful list, click HERE.
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