We’re in the giving season. It’s Christmas. So much of Christmas has become about the giving and receiving of gifts. And gifts are my love language. I love gifts.
I love selecting gifts and carefully wrapping them. I love selecting the wrapping paper and ribbon. I love making bows. I love placing the gifts under the tree and handing them to the recipients.
But this season is also very busy. We get weighted down by responsibility and to-do lists. I know I do. I have a full calendar throughout the rest of the month. Parties, gift exchanges, performances, volunteer work. Everything is important and nothing seems to be able to be removed from the list. And then, before we know it, it’s Christmas. Family is in town and we’re rushing around making food to feed an army rather than just hanging out and enjoying our time together.
But, for the obvious reasons, I love all of that, too. Though I may stay up late to get everything done and complain that I didn’t get enough sleep, I still love everything on the to-do list. But I don’t want the real Spirit of this season to be lost.
While I was out shopping recently, I picked up a copy of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I’ve only just begun to read this book, but I know that it is something I need to read.
I need to make a conscious effort, like Ann Voskamp did, to notice all the good around me. I want to keep my eyes open and take note of every single thing that I’m grateful for.
Life and its commitments are inevitable. And most of our commitments are things we can’t just walk away from. They make life challenging, sure. But the things I’m committed to, big and small, are mine.
My concern has been that I’ll be so busy with commitments that I stop noticing all the beauty around me. And I’m not talking about the obvious things. I will never stop noticing the people I love. I’m talking about the less obvious things. To be thankful for the rain and to truly appreciate the fact that I have a roof over my head.
I need to stop looking to the future and spend more time focusing on right now.
I picked up this book as a gift for a handful of friends because I love what it’s about. I know that I’m going to learn so much from it.
I have to start keeping my eyes open. I have to stop rushing around. I am so thankful for my husband, my family, my children, my friends and employment. I’m thankful for the first amendment and that I’m able to have this blog where I can journal.
But this is when I need to look around me and see all the things I have been missing because I’ve been moving too quickly.
I’m thankful for the smell of Cheer detergent and the way my heart flutters when I hug my husband when he’s wearing a just-dried shirt.
I’m thankful for the tantrum my toddler just threw because I know that he is spirited and passionate and I never want to crush that spirit.
What are you thankful today? Are you like me? Are you moving so quickly this month that the good stuff is passing you by?
“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20
I think I need to pick up this book. It’s so easy to get caught up with everyday life that we forget to smell the proverbial and literal roses. Thanks for the recommendation!
I just started this book too, because I need it. I am definitely guilty of living in tomorrow instead of today and taking the small things for granted. Thank you for sharing.
I am thankful that you blog beautiful reminders:)
Thank you so much for this reminder, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
I am thankful that I have been able to breastfeed my daughter for 6 months and that even though it seems to be getting more unlikely that I will be able to exclusively do it for another 6 months, I have to believe that I have given her a wonderful gift, just as she has done by choosing me for her mama.
My soon-to-be mother-in-law gave me that book! I can’t wait to read it! Maybe after everything slows down!!
I have definitely tried to slow down this season and enjoy my time with my little family. Instead of rushing around in the morning, doing laundry or cleaning the kitchen, I am taking the time to have a cup of coffee on the couch and watch Emmy play. It is a great way to start the day! xoxo
What an awesome reminder- thank you! I tend to get overwhelmed by the ‘must get dones’ that I have on my mind everyday, but especially during this time of year I’m trying to remember to focus on the little things… the smell of the Christmas tree, the crackle of the fire, the sound of my baby girl’s coos… heaven! 🙂
I have to really make an effort to live in the moment and not stress about the things (big and small) that lie ahead. I will add that book to my list!
By the way, love the preview of your family pictures!
Wow! I’m amazed because this is exactly what God has been dealing with me about lately. It’s not so much that I’m discontent, but that I’m busy. And the busier the get the more frustrated and impatient and less thankful I become. I’m trying very to hard to focus on the reason for the season in the midst of all the craziness.
Erin, thanks for sharing your wise words this morning. Have a wonderful day!
Beautiful post!
I am so grateful that you wrote this post today– it’s as if it was just for me! I’ve been struggling with feeling very lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, between buying and wrapping gifts, making plans to see people from out of town, making plans to GO out of town, the mile-long to do lists… it has just overwhelmed me. My birthday is this Sunday and I decided yesterday that I needed a little book for myself, something to sit down with and focus on that can really bring me back to the Reason for this season, and remind me to be thankful for life’s daily blessings. Thank you for this!
SO true! Thanks for the beautiful reminder!
I read One Thousand Gifts on a weekend of flights, and it was so beautiful. It subtly, but definitely, encouraged me to slow down, to stop wishing and hoping for what is to come, and to see the little joys in every day. I hope you enjoy it.
I know so many people who love that book, and the idea is such a great reminder especially this time of year. I just had to say that my little 8 month old boy has Hayes sweater… it is such a cute one!!
Hey Friend!! You will love that book. She is amazing and her story is unbelievable. I have my 1000 Gifts notebook on my kitchen counter. Everytime I think of something I jot it down. When I get anxious and frustrated with the nit-picky things in life I flip back through it and remind myself of exactly how blessed I am.
Great investment!
XOXO
What a wonderful post and those pictures are beautiful! I need to pick up a couple of that book.
I am thankful for God and how he has never lost faith in me even when I lost faith in myself. I am thankful for His wisdom in guiding my life to where it is now even when I doubted Him.
Such a good reminder. Now if I could just copy and paste the text of that book to the insides of my eyelids.
I see you in pictures on your blog and forget that it’s you daily! I love the dark, but it throws me off! 🙂
When we get weighed down with committments, especially this time of year, it’s easy to take our eyes off what is truly important in life. This post was a great reminder for me…thank you! The pictures are beautiful, too!
Looks like we had the same idea today! Thank you for writing about something similar (but you’re a better writer than me!) It is so easy to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle!
Just wanted to let you know that there is a app for the iphone that goes with this book. You can take pictures and/or make notes about gifts. I love that I can log my gifts and go back and see what I was thankful for last week or even last month.
Gifts are my love language too! I have read some of Ann’s blog but I have not yet picked up her book. I hope you enjoy it.
I’m thankful for KK!!! We had lunch with her today 🙂
We had a talk at my mom’s group at church about this book last week. We are on a pretty tight budget, but I went ahead and bought the book for me for Christmas. I am so thankful I did. I am about halfway through and it is amazing how I am actually taking time to thank God throughout the day for even the small things. What are great Christmas present for your friends!
This is beautiful. I am like you–I am constantly looking ahead. Unfortunately I think this is a part of life, and often it takes something major to make you slow down a bit. Good for you for coming to this realization on your own.
Such a great reminder!!
I’ll have to check out that book. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I actually wish I was a touch BUSIER this year. I decided not to throw any Christmas parties this year, and we’re only going to two. But honestly, I think I should appreciate the relaxed approach this year. There have been several nights we’ve just built a fire and played with our baby and read in front of the Christmas tree, and that’s wonderful too.
Thanks Erin, I’m always looking for a good book to feed and nourish me. I need this one…because as of late, I’m struggling with looking around and seeing what “I don’t have” instead of the blessings that I do. :o)
Pretty sure you read my mind 🙂 I was working on a post similar to this recently, but haven’t posted (for lack of finishing) 🙂 Thanks for reminding me how truly blessed we all are! Love you!
um and PS—those pics—one word–AWESOME! Fantastically awesome. Ok that was two words, but they deserve it! I want to see MORE!
I love this post! I actually downloaded that book on Kindle last month and just haven’t gotten a chance to start it yet. I can’t wait though! What a great reminder to slow down.
You know I’m also like you where I focus so much on the future instead of just living in the moment, thank you for the gentle reminder. I love this post so much! I think I need to read that book, I’ve seen it mentioned here and there but never really knew what it was about! Oh and I ended up getting that sweater piece for Eli. He and Hayes can match! 🙂
Thanks for the reminder…… first that this book is sitting on my nightstand, unread (I bought it to take to the hospital in June for the delivery of our sweet babe, but I was too excited to read!!) and secondly that we need to have grateful hearts. How often we all become consumed with the hustle and bustle of life and forget to notice the JOY in all of it.
I’m totally starting this book tomorrow! 🙂
I love that picture of you and Hayes. So sweet! I haven’t heard of this book before. I might have to pick it up.
Christmas for me is a time to slow down, a time to relax, but that’s because I’m still a student. The semester has flown by, and it’s my second-to-last before I graduate from college, so I want to make sure I take the time to appreciate the little moments that happen during and between study and homework periods, class, and working. I put One Thousand Gifts on hold at my library a while ago and am eagerly awaiting the opportunity to read it. I have heard nothing but good things about it!
I am thankful for being your children’s babysitter. they grabbed my heart. 🙂
LOVE the picture of you – you look so happy. I’m always trying to remember through the business of this season about all the beauty and awesomeness around us 😉 because life’s too short not to enjoy the simply, small moments.