Joyful Thanksgiving

Almost every night in life, my husband and I end our days with a books in our hands.  I’m propped up in bed on my fluffy pillows holding my {usual} book of choice – a nice, sweet Christian novel that ends “happily ever after”.  “Brain candy” my husband calls them.:)  He, on the other hand, chooses the deep side of literature –  the kind of books that make you really think.  He’ll interrupt our reading sessions to say, “Oh, listen to this” and rattle off some amazing quote.  More often than not, he has to read it to me at least twice before I can wrap my mind around it…

But I’ve just started reading a book – out of my normal “book of choice” category – that is rocking my world.  It’s been recommended to me with rave reviews by more than one person, so it’s been on my mental “want to read” list for a while now.

Yesterday, my friend put her copy in my mailbox.

I started reading it…and can hardly put it down.

The author has an incredibly unique writing style.  It’s  sort of “poetic” …but not exactly.  I’m not a huge fan of poetry.

But somehow, the way she fashions her words forces my mind to slow down.  To take it in.  To take a concept, and instead of just racing over it, it instead wraps itself around the fibres of my brain –  or…more accurately…my heart.

I’m only on chapter 3, but it has already changed my perspective on the everyday.  The premise of the book is the author’s journey into thanksgiving.  And joy. On a daily ~ moment by moment ~ basis.

Joy.  I’ve always loved that word.  In fact, in my Bible college days, I did a sermon assignment on it.  (Of course they called it “public speaking” since we were women!).  I discovered while digging into the meaning of the word,  that true joy is closely tied with peace.  The kind of peace that can only be given by our Father God Himself.  The kind of joy/peace that roots deep in our soul and abides…no matter how sad or awful or wonderful or good the situation we are currently living in.

I thought of that as I read this pivotal paragraph in Ann’s book:

“So then as long as thanks is possible…I think this through.  As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible.  Joy is always possible.  Whenever,meaning – now; wherever,meaning – here.  The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience.  The joy wonder could be here!  Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now, joy might by – unbelievably – possible!  The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now.” ~ excerpt from page 33 of “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp

Amen.  And thank you, Jesus, for being the one who gives us joy.  True.  Lasting.  Abiding.  Joy.

May I never take that for granted.

…and by the time I finish this book, I might become a writer of poetry!:)