A thankful heart does not come easy or for free. Some of the most deeply cultivated hearts of thankfulness belong to people who may have endured much suffering or those who seem to me to have little to be thankful for in this world.
Several times over the past few weeks, the idea of being thankful has weaved its way into conversations and readings and other things. I’m beginning to become suspicious that maybe there is a conspiracy of thankfulness going on around me. I want to actively embrace it rather than ignore it.
What better way to grow a thankful heart than to notice on purpose the small and the sacred? So let’s do that. I would love for you to join me tomorrow and link up to share a moment that may have otherwise disappeared under the pile of daily tasks. Instead, stop. Notice. Celebrate. And be thankful.
And then, take a photo to share with us! Or treasure that moment up in your heart and spill it out in story form. It doesn’t have to be long, it just has to be authentic. Feel free to use this pink button I made for your post. If we continue to do Tuesdays Unwrapped, I may have Kate make me a button that actually matches my blog. But she is hard at work on the archive page so I didn’t want to distract her. Still, I look forward to celebrating with you.
And while we’re talking buttons, let me introduce you to my new little friend:
Hello. My name is cute little button and I want to live in your sidebar. Won’t you take me home with you? You are welcome to grab me from this post, but if that doesn’t work, no worries. My code will available soon for your sidebar adding pleasure.
I tried to add the button but the HTML code said there was an error. Am I doing something wrong? Just copy and paste right?
oh my that cute little button is DARLING! And Tuesday’s Unwrapped. Like all Tuesdays?! What a great idea!
love you girl.
katie, you aren’t doing anything wrong I don’t think. The code is messed up. Hold please…
Ooo. I like this assignment. And your button is fabulous. I just rigged up a new website so I think I’m going to be able to have a links page soon, and guess who will be The A Number One Cute Little Button on said links page? Guess. Go ahead. No really, try to guess.
This sounds great Emily! Love the button! We’re unpacking from a trip, but maybe I can get a post together to join you tomorrow. I enjoy writing and reading “thankful posts!”
~Kim
oh, my last post is going right on that Mr. Linky and I know you want to match your blog with it, but I am in love with your Tuesdays Unwrapped photo. Did you do that by yourself? I want to learn from you.
Fun Stuff. Love the button – well both buttons. Love the pictures always. I’ve been a long time stalker but will be tuning in and linking up for Tuesdays. Thanks for the great ideas..
I’m excited Emily! It’s funny – I wrote something similar today too! I know just what I’m going to post about tomorrow! Love you!
Emily,
Your writing always makes me smile.
) Your heart and how you convey it is so genuine and loving. It’s totally true about being thankful. I praise God every day for making me sensitive to all of the smamll blessings in my life, that I never taken anything for granted, but I’m still in awe of how much I probably don’t notice, how much happens upon me when the sun hits it just right or my heart teeters into a new, yet wonderful direction. Tuesdays Unwrapped is a great idea!
Have a wonderful week, mama!
Okay…I was already to comment and I totally forgot it all and even what the post was…I am tired but I know I loved what you wrote…I had to type in all my info (name, mail, website) and that made me forget it all.
do like your button~
sandy toe
We at the http://www.zcouple.com agree with you,,, thanksful heart comes easier to the people who had nothing and and can’t have much. so true. but so sad, because the people whom have it all, should learn to be thanksful as well.
Oh, I can’t wait for your next Tuesday post b/c I simply don’t have time right now as I’m on Day Two of Operation Potty Train My Three-Year Old.
But I do so want to do one next week!
And I also am pumped you’re going to be posting the code for your button. Can’t wait to add it to my sidebar!!
Oh EMILY!!!! I just read this post, as I followed a link from The Nester to your blog today and immediately jumped in on your Unwrapped Tuesday.
Your post from yesterday announcing your challenge absolutely struck me. How so very deep and inspirational…
“A thankful heart does not come easy or for free. Some of the most deeply cultivated hearts of thankfulness belong to people who may have endured much suffering or those who seem to me to have little to be thankful for in this world.”
I have done so much thinking on this since February, when we lost our twin girls in utero. It was utterly devastating, but the perspective it has given me has been one of my life’s biggest blessings. My husband lost his job of 14 years a few weeks later and truthfully I wouldn’t have made it through the job loss at this point last year. I LOVE things. All kinds of things… Shiny things, pink things, glittery things (ok, maybe not), handbag and shoes things, boutique clothes for the 5 kids things… You get the picture.
Not now… I am changed. I thought perhaps I was even broken, but I have slowly awoken from my grief to a better Crissie, a piece each and every day.
Thank you, thank you thank you for putting into words what I’ve been feeling in my heart since February. I feel as if I have lived most of my adult life through a haze of my own expectations and I can now see the absolute joy in everyday life, free of the constant demands of having more and new and shinier and better.
I actually posted about it last night, after my family played a friendly game of baseball for our evening fun. Uncomplicated, free and beautiful. It was so ironic that you had the same thoughts…
http://riches-of-my-soul.blogspot.com/2009/04/great-american-pasttime.html
PS – a little disclaimer before I look better than I actually am. I still love things.
Pretty things, fun things… only now on the cheap from garage sales or thrift stores. I’m only human (with a lot of shoes…)
xoxoxoxo