Delights from A -Z
I am thankful for God’s perfect timing despite that it can often and easily enough oppose what I have planned or hoped for, or both. A posture of gratitude isn’t meant to conclude with Thanksgiving dinner’s last bite nor is it about forging ahead in a fantasy world disconnected from life’s considerable challenges. Whatever happens, we face it with God and can be honest about our fears, regrets, and pain. “Hakuna Matata” is a fine song for children in their playful innocence, but makes for a horrible outlook on life. Adults aren’t made to shun rigor and approach everything with nonchalantly shrugged-shoulders. In Christ, we are called to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), meaning we trust God to have the final word and trust that His final word will be good. Embodying an appreciative heart necessitates me rejoicing in God’s perfect love for me, that He is dependable. The more I seek Him, the more I find Him. God allowing the sun to rise each morning is a reminder of His goodness. And not only that, He also constantly protects me from danger that I often don’t even know is there.
Remaining grateful in a culture that promotes selfishness takes intentionality. For me, through the years this has taken the form of accumulating 365 non-repetitive post-it notes of thanks, reading one thanksgiving psalm every day, and dropping little encouragements into a joy jar. On the not-so-great days when I am sulking in ungratefulness, it has helped to then refer back to what I have written and to read it as a reminder to fully depend on God. The more I focus on His goodness, the less comparison becomes a fixation. Submitting to God and God’s ways is a choice, but one that is harder to make if you get distracted by regret or trying to control the future.
With the second half of 2020 rapidly disappearing, I desire to be more present and not let God’s blessings right in-front of me go unrecognized or unappreciated, contaminated by the commercialized congestion of the holiday season, not to mention the pollution of my own heart. After reading The Book of Delights by Ross Gay, I decided to follow his lead and compile a list of what delights me on any given day. I wondered; how can I use this exercise to keep myself accountable to practicing gratitude year-round? “Delight” is a word that not only acknowledges a person, place, thing, or idea, but nurtures my increased communion with God and development as a disciple whose faith isn’t circumstantial. Some days I write a word or phrase and other days a paragraph or two about something that stands out as an opportunity to worship God. This enables me to delight in the awkward, awesome, and average of my life. Below is an A-Z snapshot of those reflections:
A: art (the) of eyebrow threading, authenticity, audio books.
B: barnacles, bibliotherapy, blemishes.
C: comfy pants, Clorox wipes.
D: Delicata squash, dance parties for one, discomfort.
E: exchanges six feet apart, elevating the everyday.
F: feasting on Korean style fried chicken, fall leaves, football.
G: Great British Baking Show (The), giddiness, growing older.
H: hibernating under the blanket, homemade cranberry sauce, hot showers.
I: interdependence, indulging in Cretors popcorn, indoor camping.
J: journaling, jumbo cashews, Joules rain boots.
K: kindness, keepsakes, kombucha.
L: local farmer’s markets, late-night drives, laughter.
M: minimalism, memoirs.
N: nightly contemplative prayers, nowhere to go, note cards.
O: old photographs, OPI nail polish, Oprahs’ 2020 favorite things list.
P: peanut butter, Pinterest, plaids and polka dots.
Q: quick-witted friends, quirky habits of my husband.
R: recovery process, relinquishing control, reclaiming my imagination.
S: sunrise at the beach, silence, S’mores.
T: text messages, tidy spaces, The New York Times.
U: upbeat playlists, Ube Macapuno ice cream.
V: vintage style eyeglasses.
W: working out, waking up late, warmth of my tears.
X: extra soul care, extensions of grace, exhaling.
Y: “yes,” yearning for what is next.
Z: zigzag patterns on my reading socks, Zoom calls with friends, Zzz’s.