My 24th Birthday with One Thousand Gifts

I soon turn 24 years old. I could spend the last few hours of being 23 reflecting on my life up to this point. But that would be an extremely long post and I would not really know where to start or finish, and what to highlight or leave out. So, to celebrate my 24th birthday I am going to share recent blessings that I have started to record in response to Ann Voskamp’s New York Times Bestseller ‘One Thousand Gifts’. Voskamp encourages us to count the blessings or gifts that we encounter in each moment. A dare to live life fully, right where we are. It encourages us to give thanks in both the good and the hardest times. In ‘One Thousand Gifts’ we are challenged to start our very own list of thanksgiving; to give thanks or ‘eucharisteo’ in everything.

I have only just started my list of ‘One Thousand Gifts’, but it seems fitting to write about what I am deeply thankful for on my last evening of being 23. How can I possibly enter my 24th year with a heart of grace, thanksgiving and joy without recognising the wonderful gifts that God has bestowed in my life at this very moment? Moments of thanksgiving and blessings that I have recorded recently make up the beginning of my journey to find One Thousand Gifts.

Here it is – the start of my very own ‘One Thousand Gifts’:

1. The smell of freshly cut grass
2. Being inside, all cozy on a rainy day
3. Cooing of the pigeon in the trees
4. The stillness of the countryside 
5. When children say sweet things like “twirly wurly”
6. Moments of stillness
7. The sounds of livestock in the distance
8. Crows in pairs
9. The joyful flight and walk of the pied wagtail
10. A mother’s hand to hold
11. Warm water gushing at the end of work – a relaxing shower
12. Gentle breeze in a summer’s day
13. A book that helps me to know God more deeply
14. Hearing the laughter of my sisters
15. Warmth of blankets 
16. Cocooned in a sleeping bag
17. A cat coming up to greet and hug
18. A bed to rest
19. Neatly kept acres of land – soil dug or grass well kept
20. The hill that, once ascended, allows me to see beauty for miles
21. Music and popular songs to dance and wash up to
22. Waking up each morning to blessings new
23. Clouds moving in the wind to reveal a clear blue sky
24. A slight breeze on my face as I read God’s Word
25. The rustling of leaves blowing in the wind – “All the trees of the forest sing for joy” (Psalm 96:12)
26. A precious child of God growing in their faith journey
27. A welcome into a friendly game of Mario on the PC 
28. Horizontal colours of red, orange and yellow marking the sunset 
29. Worshipful singing whilst cooking 
30. Shared stories of encouragement among friends
31. A door held open as an act of kindness
32. Light breeze over summer feet
33. Floral patterns
34. Cat playing
35. Opening hearts together in fellowship
36. Realising we are not alone in our struggles with sin
37. Introverted, quiet, lonely boy beginning to join in with others
38. Honest youth maturing in behaviour
39. Holding hands
40. A still morning in the countryside
41. Birds talking together
42. Family in Christ coming together
43. The sound of the wind in the trees
44. Medicine 
45. A massage
46. Hands 
47. Working together in the kitchen
48. Fresh smell of clean counter
49. Serving food to hungry campers
50. Warm, snug slippers and socks
51. My hair being played with
52. Breathing in
53. Breathing out
54. Glasses assisting my vision
55. Handwriting
56. Pen gliding over paper
57. A page filled with writer’s eloquence
58. Places without the internet
59. Coins banging together
60. Music of Disney films
61. Paintings of landscapes hanging on the wall
62. Parodies and laughter
63. Green pastures
64. Reflection of sunlight on the floor
65. Windows to look out of
66. Warm cup of tea on cold hands
67. Knitted jumpers
68. Wooden beams holding up a house
69. Nan’s tin of buttons
70. Little bows
71. Light in the darkness
72. Wedding bands
73. Engagement diamond glistening
74. Raindrops slipping down window glass
75. Plant leaves hanging off windowsill
76. Birds flying against sky backdrop
77. Lamp light casting shadows on walls
78. Soft, comfy chairs
79. Ticking clocks
80. Flapping, feathered wings
81. Conversations with curates
82. A weary husband  closing his eyes and resting
83. Beads of water on blades of grass
84. Frost on a winter’s morning
85. Trusting that I will wake up in the morning, so I go to sleep with ease
86. Waking up
87. Shadows
88. Young toddler smiling
89. Baby laughing in mother’s arms
90. Curly hair
91. Mother staying at home with children
92. Cat curled up sleeping
93. Bananagram tiles outside

I encourage you to count your own gifts in each moment. Stop trying to rush to the next thing and stay in the present – the gift of today. There is so much beauty and an outpouring of grace – right now. Blessing after blessing. Let’s open our eyes and lift up our hands in thanksgiving, eucharisteo, to God.

Blessings,

Ruth 🙂