Blog Summit – Day 8 – Gratitude, Thankfulness, and Grace

We’re nearing the end of the Gratitude Project Blog Summit but we’re SO much closer to the BIG day! Are you taking part in tomorrow’s revolutionary call-in? There’s still plenty of time to register! Even if you only have a few minutes at the start of each hour, I urge you to spend it with the Soulful Coaching community as we exercise and practice these powerful gratitude rituals! Take a few moments to look at the agenda for tomorrow by clicking here.

Danielle Bishop is new to the Soulful Coaching community and I’m really excited to introduce you to her because she has a really great story to tell on gratitude. Danielle is a blogger over at We Have It All – she’s married and a great mom to five kids with another on the way! By day she’s a childcare provider and by night she’s a freelance writer! She’s a Christian mama who enjoys writing about parenting, family life, and even has time for some amazing product reviews! She’s doing her best to stay sane in a world of chaos and she’s grateful for that ability! Keep up with Danielle by following her on Facebook, Twitter, and even WhatToExpect.com!

Gratitude, Thankfulness, and Grace
by Danielle Bishop

When I think of the word “gratitude” the word “thankful” comes to mind. The word “grace” follows.

What am I thankful for?

I could fill up a notebook, line by line, with the little things like a cup of coffee before bed, the quilts laying in every room of my house, a shower *alone*, open windows throughout the house on beautiful days, all of the neighborhood kids playing in my backyard… and the list could go on until the end of eternity. Or I could list the big things like the love of my amazing husband and 5 fantastic kids, our health, having both of my parents still, having a roof over my head and food on the table… and again, this list could also go on and on.

But in reality, these things are are not things that have just ‘fallen’ in my path. These things are all provided by God.

Ever since my kids were little and we prayed together, I’ve always taught them to begin their conversation with God by thanking Him. Thank Him for what He has blessed you with. If it were not for Him, where would we be?

And I’ve often thought to myself,

“If tomorrow came and you woke up with only what you had thanked God for today, what would you be left with?”

So what am I really thankful for?

God’s Grace and Love.

God’s unmerited favor that I do not deserve. I could nothing to ‘earn’ His love and His Hand on mine guiding me along through my valleys and struggles.

There have been days in my past when I did not know what I was going to feed my kids that night for dinner. Those same days where an acquaintance would show up at my door and say, “We won’t eat this stuff, but I was hoping you and your kids will”.

There have been days in my past where I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel… but then out of the darkness appeared His light. His hand outstretched telling me, “Grab on to my hand and I will lead you”

I have done none of this within myself. Of course I have always tried my best to do what was right but ultimately I have done nothing without God.

Romans 7:18 says, “I know that nothing good lives in me – I mean, nothing good lives in the part of me that is earthly and sinful. I want to do the things that are good, but I do not do them”.

It was always God by my side.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.”

It was always God. It was Him that has had our lives in the palm of His hands. And I am so thankful for His love and mercy and grace.

Look at what he has blessed me with:

Life, Love and Heath.

I can not look at this photo and not see what God has done for us.

I have so much to thank Him for.