Special Gratitude Edition

Guest Post Written by Kim Cope

Journal Entry #20,000 - July 5, 2018

Wow - so thankful I started this daily practice seven and a half years ago! Today I will record my 20,000th gift in my gratitude journal. I went to bed last night mumbling and grumbling and woke up in the same sorry state. Thank You, Lord, for new mercies every morning!

My favorite Ann Voskamp quote is, “Every breath’s a battle between grudgery and gratitude and we must keep thanks on the lips so we can sip from the holy grail of joy.” 

While walking with John this morning, I found a big, beat-up hawk feather in my neighbor’s yard. It was an immediate Psalm 91 reminder for me, and I realize it’s my 20,000th gift! For years, finding feathers has been a personal sign to me that God will cover me and my family with His feathers. And under His wings me and mine will find refuge! His faithfulness will be our rampart! “I will not fear the terror of night” doesn’t mean there won’t be a terror in the night. There just might be an arrow that flies at me by the day. Maybe even a midday plague. A thousand could fall and ten thousand at my right hand. But God’s feathery promise says “I will only observe”…and keep a record of his faithfulness, I might add!

This feather’s condition is proof that the poor ol' hawk was engaged in some sort of a battle. Not a battle between grudgery and gratitude, but perhaps with the tomcat next door. This feather is worn out and useless, and that is exactly how I felt when I woke up in an ungrateful mood. I see this feather as a pure gift straight from the Giver telling me that there are gifts in the mess and the muck and the merry and the much! So I will keep counting.

*****

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’ Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes...” – Psalm 91:1-8a