“If it were up to me … I’d write this story differently” (One
Thousand Gifts, p. 20).
Be honest. Haven’t you felt that way sometimes? It was natural for Ann Voskamp to feel that way when her first memories were of her toddler sister’s death, an event traumatic enough to send her mother to a mental institution and to overwhelm her father for years.
And that event wounded Ann Voskamp. Read chapter one of One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are to feel the deepness of the wounds, the intensity of Ann’s pain. But out of a place of pain and woundedness, Ann used a pen and gratitude to begin transforming her wounds into words of encouragement.
I’ve written about Ann Voskamp a number of times at Bits of Positivity. About how she started the Gratitude Community … with bloggers around the world sharing some of their gratitude gifts each Monday. About how she wrote One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.
It may be through her book that Ann’s words have spoken loudest and reached farthest… especially after God placed her book on the New York Times bestseller list. And in that book, Ann truly transforms her wounds. By writing her one thousand gifts (things she’s grateful for each day), she reaches the place where she can honestly say:
“As Long As Thanks Is Possible” Word-Art Freebie
“As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible” (One Thousand Gifts, p. 33).
“Who would ever know the greater graces of comfort and perseverance, mercy and forgiveness, patience and courage, if no shadows fell over a life?” (Ibid, p. 90)
“All is grace” (Ibid, p. 100).
“God is always good and I am always loved” (Ibid, p. 100).
“Trust is the bridge from yesterday to tomorrow, built with planks of thanks. Remembering frames up gratitude. Gratitude lays out the planks of trust. I can walk the planks—from known to unknown—and know: He holds.” (Ibid, pp. 151-152)
“I can become the blessing, a little life that multiplies joy, making the larger world a better place” (Ibid, p. 200).
“Become the Blessing” Word-Art Freebie.
Top Photo Credit: Photo by Lisa Sohl at Flickr Creative Commons.
Ann’s book has graced my home…..my story, like all of ours is very similar….some with more pain others with less…..all of us seeking the joy and glory to fill the hole…..thank you, Deb….this is beautiful!
Rebecca recently posted..Finding Strengthon a Thought-ProvokingThursday
Thanks so much for your very kind comment, Rebecca! It’s amazing to see how many lives Ann Voskamp has enriched through her work.
Deb recently posted..Viewing Your Life as a Drama
Ann’s words are ‘God’s admonition and encouragement’ to a fallen world, she is a gifted writer and is truly following the leading of God for I feel her words are annointed with Grace, peace and hope. May all who read her words walk away changed in such a way that they would want to ‘follow’ after HER God. May He continue to Bless her gift of writing.
Thanks for your comment, Sharon! I love your sentence “May all who read her words walk away changed in such a way that they would want to ‘follow’ after HER God.”
Deb recently posted..Viewing Your Life as a Drama
Wounds into words, I love that title, reminder. Not just lick your wounds. Bring them to God, give thanks, and watch his miracle unfold. Oh, but I’m licking my wounds so often!
I love the art, thank you for the freebies. I’m learning to decorate not just my fridge with godly words, reminders, joy for my day. And my daughter’s godly art. Someday we’ll start a blog and feature it. Thank you again, may God bless you richly.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Beth! May God bless you richly, too!
Deb recently posted..Blogging for God