Many of us have painful pasts. Some of those pains have caused us to close up that period of time in our lives. By closing up those times, we have learned how to cope, exist and move forward. Sometimes we know why we have closed it off - in other cases, we have not allowed ourselves to remember.
Ann encourages us to take time to see the gifts we already have. This study will stretch our minds to enjoy and be happy about things we probably take for granted on a daily basis. We mentioned some of them already and there are many more that will surface. How exciting it will be to see each of our lists begin to grow.
It also contains the word charis (KARIS) which means grace and the word chara (KARA) which means joy.
Enjoy this word - say it aloud - eucharisteo
On page 47 of Ann's book (not the workbook) she includes a segment of Paul's letter to the Philippians 4:11-12 to help us understand eucharisteo.
" I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little."
Ann tells us "Twice Paul whispers it: 'I have learned . . . ' She tells us we have to learn eucharisteo - learn it to live fully. Learn how to be thankful - whether empty or full.
Are we all ready to learn? To learn eucharisteo???
- learning to count: read pages 9 - 10
- attitude of gratitude - review 1 - 9 on pages 15 - 19. Read the Scriptures we did not read aloud and fill in the responses
- between sessions - pages 20 - 26
Start your Gratitude Journal!!!
I just love our technology today! I Google'd "gratitude journal" because as you know . . . I'm a "picture person". What I also found for those of us with Smart Phones is that there is an app for $1.99 through iTunes for a Gratitude Journal.
I found an article that contained some good tips:
- Don't just go through the motions
- Go for depth over breadth
- Get personal
- Try subtraction, just not addition
- Savor surprises
- Don't overdo it (in one sitting)
Amazon sells a Gratitude Journal that provides some things to think about to get the juices flowing each day. You can use the blanks in the workboop - buy a composition book (or more than one) - buy a journal - use index cards - use a pad - use a spreadsheet (for us geeks).
There are many ways to keep your lists of gifts - be as creative as you will allow yourself to be ;-) Below are some ideas. I can't wait to see what we come up with next week. Be blessed as you bless others. I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOU!!!