This chapter really resonated with me. I desire to really live life, but also to be ready to die, to "inhale eternity" as Ann put it (pg 30). Living without regret, with joy. I am really pondering her thought that the depth of thanks is linked to height of joy (pg 33) and that thanksgiving always precedes the miracle (pg 35).
What are your thoughts? Do you ever feel these things? Dreading another day, anxiety of failing, afraid, weary, ruptured hopes?Do you see ungratefulness as the sin in the garden of Eden? Is thanksgiving linked to salvation?
Are there things that must be done or seen to have fully lived? How would you describe a life fully lived?
I am excited to hear your thoughts! Post your comments, thoughts, insights, questions, etc... Please be thoughtful when responding to someone's post. Enjoy the journey!
I found this chapter a little harder to read. I am not generally a poetic reader and my thoughts never go like her narrative, so I sometimes have trouble keeping on track when she gets all poetic on me. But I am really happy to have seen the parallels that she pointed out in Jesus walk between thanksgiving and miracles. He frequently thanked His Father BEFORE there was something to thank Him for (before the prayer was answered). It would be easy for me to say, "well, that is because He was God so He knew without a doubt how the outcome would end up." But I think that would be a complete cop-out. There is no reason why I should not lift up my concerns and intercessions and IMMEDIATELY thank Him for the answer. Knowing the answer in advance is not required if I truly feel that God always has what is best for me in mind. I can begin thanking Him no matter how He answers. I remember a quote one time that can be profound if you think about it......"what if you only have today what you thanked God for yesterday?" Oi, scary thought, huh?
ReplyDeleteI'm finding I have to read each chapter more than once to be able to even partly understand what she is saying. I too am not a poetic reader, so this is difficult for me. Now I remember why I have attempted to read this several times and not accomplished it yet! lol I have struggled with the giving thanks, even in the hards times, over the years, I think we all do. Who feels like giving thanks when you feel as though your world is falling apart? How do we feel we can thank God when we are more apt to be angry instead? It is so hard to have joy and thanksgiving when you are struggling and hurting. I have learned this lesson over the years, seeing family who have dealt with a lot and who have been hurting. I would always get so frustrated at those going through tough situations and want them to be more thankful to God over even just the small victories in their struggles, but all they would be was angry. I always thought at the time, "I would handle it differently, I would not be angry", but then I'd really stop and think, would I really? If I were in the same situation, wouldn't I be the same way as them and be a mess? God showed me a lot through those tough times, which I now know He was preparing me for my own harships and issues. Anytime I want to get upset, angry, frustrated, full of anxiety, When I feel as though I can not thank Him, I remember back to when I was so upset with everyone else in not giving thanks to Him. I have to remember my own lessons God gave me and remember to give Him thanks, no matter what, even before the answer.
ReplyDeleteWHY am I slacking?! UGH! I'll be back tomorrow with my thoughts...I've gotten really behind.
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