“Eucharisteo always precedes the miracle.” – Ann Voskamp
As I tweet this out in reminder to myself, I wonder where I will find thanksgiving, let alone a miracle in today. Upon waking this morning, I found my throat on fire and a nose that appears to have sprung a leak. Heap that upon my internal organs that are vexing me so. What good could come of this day?
Daily I am practicing having eyes to see the miracle of the gifts that surround me, but yet I am still so blind in so many ways. I want to be so much further on this journey than I truly am. Sigh. I press on in prayer, asking God to show me something when I feel like there is nothing.
Trudging through another long school day that feels like it will never end, I blow my nose for what feels like the four millionth time. My nose is raw.
120 – Tissue to blow my nose.
That’s all I’ve got on my list today. I make an impulsive decision. Why not ask my children to help me see? They know I’ve started a list of gifts, why not speak it out loud and see what will happen? Why not see with their eyes? Genius. Eucharisteo begins to flow again.
125 – Littlest One crawling up into my lap in the green chair in the early morning hours.
126 – Team work as hard-boiled eggs are cracked in preparation for lunch.
127 – My husband is alive.
130 – The assurance of heaven for Nana Red.
131 – Jesus as my friend.
133 – Freedom of choice.
134 – Having a supernatural amount of patience to teach when I don’t feel like it.
140 – A surprise phone call from The Driver in the middle of my day.
143 – Saying “I love you” without words, but instead with sign language.
145 – Being able to be transparent with my kids.
146 – Random hugs from The Negotiator who just “happens” to know when I need one.
147 – Deviation from our daily fruit smoothie with a Chocolate Candy Cane Jo-Jo milkshake.
150 – Watching the excitement of Mini-Me as she waits in anticipation of the arrival of her youth leader’s baby.
Joy. Joy overflowing from the depths of me as I search for another tissue, but this time for tears. Joy has come through the eyes of my children as we join hands on this journey of practicing thanksgiving. I see something changed in them as we go our separate ways for the afternoon. It’s little, but I see a glimmer in a gesture of generosity between brothers. A hug freely given. A caring heart when someone gets hurt.
“Eucharisteo always precedes the miracle.” – Ann Voskamp
“I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with joy….”
So glad you (and your children) got in there.
It is so often my children that lead me in too.
Beautiful post.
Love, love, love this! I have tears in my eyes…this is a beautiful post!