When I began this list in June of 2010, one thousand seemed like a high number. Each week, one grace at a time, I’ve listed all the ways God showers His love on me. I guess it’s fitting that I should reach one thousand this week of Thanksgiving.

Those who are keeping their own list of graces know the way it changes the direction of your heart. For me, keeping this list has helped in my battle with depression. Reflecting on the goodness of God turns the heart from facing inward to facing upward. I notice increasingly more the beauty of my surroundings: the shape of a cloud, the cool breeze, the butterfly on a flower and other simple pleasures. The spiritual blessings I have in Christ are numerous, as I’m coming to realize. I also have been able to increasingly count the difficult things in life, the pain, disappointment and trials as a gift from God. It’s not been easy and sometimes is just plain hard to keep counting. But it’s in the counting, remembering and reflecting where true joy is found.

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Rejoicing to one thousand:

976. Finishing the study I’ve been leading through the book, Because He Loves Me. It was a great journey with my beautiful bible study ladies.
977. My accountability group: knowing they are there to pray for and support me
978. Conviction by the Holy Spirit
979. Safe return of my husband from time away
980. That he was able to be a blessing to hurting friends
981. A lesson for my children that our sacrifice was for the benefit of others
982. Strength to parent alone
983. Ethan receiving his first badges at Cub Scouts:)
984. Ian’s enthusiastic prayers
985. Receiving unexpected flowers
986. Time to Christmas shop by myself
987. Listening to Christmas music
988. Opportunities to apply scriptures the kids have learned in their daily life
989. My parents have a moving date
990. A few good friends
991. No tv for a few days
992. Homemade Scottish shortbread in honor of what we’ve been learning about the Scottish Covenanters
993. Ethan’s enjoyment and eagerness during morning devotions
994. Finishing a big writing project-not sure what to do next and praying for direction
995. Fried pickles
996. Hearing “Please” and “Thankyou”
997. Having a good homeschool group
998. Writing a letter to our Compassion Child
999. Focusing my heart on Advent
1000. Reaching 1,000 gifts!

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