Multitudinous Days

Image posted on PhotoBucket by dashdar

It's lunchtime in our homeschool, and hungry teen boys have delved deep into pantry and fridge to feed growing selves. Now fed, one is picking out music from Star Wars Episode Two on our third-hand upright piano (which needs tuning badly), and the younger two are engrossed in Prince of Persia on the XBox. Last night brought rain, a wind-hewned sideways drizzle that keeps boys inside and light delicate in the kitchen where I write. It's a peach tea, ginger-noodles-for-lunch kind of day--the best kind of day to tally thanks and brim with gratefulness.

So on I continue this day as part of the vast Gratitude Community as we trudge together, hand-in-hand, toward One Thousand Gifts at the beautiful and grace-brimming A Holy Experience.

Thanking our Lord this day for...

391. ...morning hugs from all my boyses, from the little one and the ones looming over me

392. ...a little boy who makes us bend with laughter with his "Hobbit-sy" ways

393. ...laughter shared between Keith and me with a mere glance

394. ...clouds and rain on this Monday morn, birthing green across this land browned by harsh summer sun

395. ...poets and poems making melodies in my head at Poetic Asides

396. ...the three homeless men I met at church yesterday: Steven, Brandon, and Caleb--Caleb who talked literature with Ashley and me; Steven whose copy of Foster's Celebration of Discipline began rich, Spirit-brimming conversation

397. ...and the Lord's reminder to pray for these three, with truck yet without home, Steven's face glowing with Holy Fire as he gathers the lost to travel with him, protecting them and sharing Life

398. ...and the Lord's Spirit in Kathy and Linda as they gathered a large food parcel for the three homeless ones to take--enough food for several days--and the hugs and love showered on the three and showered back upon us, knowing that at least one of these three (and we pray for the other two under Steven's protecting wings) have a Home awaiting

399. ...and for Grace alive under my very nose yesterday as I learned Joy from two of these homeless ones, so rich in many intangible ways

400. ...for the Grace of our home, snuggled in the lap of purpled mountains, and the Grace of money for food this week, and two possible short-term jobs for Keith,watching His blessings flow, a river wide and deep

Over the last couple of weeks, we've been memorizing 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18, English Standard Version:

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This verse was lived out in many ways yesterday at church, teaching me far more than the sermon did. (No offense to Pastor Stephen!) Thanks be to God who loves all His children...especially the ones with nowhere to lay their heads.

Learning to "give thanks in all circumstances,"