Wednesday, March 2, 2011

God Sightings

"Wouldn't it be great," he suggested, "if we intentionally looked back on each day for God's hand in it? You know...God Sightings."

At the thought, I smiled as a memory immediately played through my mind. We were moving from our first house and had rented a mid-size moving truck because surely our junk would all fit in a mid-size, and opting for the smaller truck would be a monetary savings. But oh how I whined and complained and threw a hissy fit when Mark called me from the rental facility to tell me that our reservation was seemingly meaningless: they had not actually reserved a truck for us. Our schedule was thrown off as they tried to find a vehicle for us. In the end, the moving company gave us--for the price of the mid-size truck--the largest truck because that was the only truck available in their lot. And later as we packed that truck full of our belongings, we realized the mid-size truck would not have been adequate.

That was a God sighting and one I always remember with a smile. God does have a sense of humor, doesn't He?

A couple years have passed since my husband's suggestion that we be intentional in our looking for God in our days. Because He is in all of our days, in every moment. It's just that we don't open our eyes to see Him in everything. We take it for granted that He's there. Worse, sometimes we just forget He's there.

I've been reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts...and have been incredibly blessed and challenged by it. Counting the blessings, the gifts, seeing the beautiful even in the ugly. Taking note of the God Sightings.

I hear my children complain daily about schoolwork, meals, activities, inconveniences, toys they don't have. And I get annoyed at them. "Stop complaining and be thankful," I tell them. But when I stop to think about it, I realize: They learned that from me. I complain about the weather, the kids, the inconveniences of life, the things I don't have. How would our family be different if I had, from the beginning, practiced this giving thanks, replacing complaining with gratitude, counting my blessings?

I want to take on this challenge. I actually did a couple years ago, but before I even got to #12, the old life of grumbling and complaining took over, and I abandoned the life of gratitude. I want to give it another try; keeping at it for a longer period of time makes it habit. Can you imagine living a life where gratitude and counting blessings is habit?

Counting down up my blessings at A Thousand Blessings.

Cross Charm


the long road

16 comments:

Bobi said...

what an awesome and motivating post.
I want to do this. Thanks for sharing this. I totally believe that if you do something for 3 weeks you have built a habit. i am in the process of starting a new exercise regimen and I think along with my physical health i want to work on my spiritual growth and this is something I need improvement in.
Thanks for posting this. All the best to you in your endeavor.

Anonymous said...

Great shot!

Rochelle@AFamilyofLooneys said...

Love your post. Isn't it amazing when we look back and have God Sightings.
Beautiful photo.

Ashley Sisk said...

What a beautiful post - I'm always humbled by God sightings.

Brownie said...

What a wonderful post! What a wonderful thought!

I have often thought of how God has worked His way in my life - but I've never deliberately written them down.

Unknown said...

I have to look no farther than my daughter to see a God sighting. Every day, in every way, He is a visible presence in my life and in my home. Oh, how I wish I were able to look at my other children, the clothes on our backs, the food on our table, and the roof over our head with the same depth of appreciation, the same sense of wonder and awe, as I do when I see her and remember the path she's traveled. Ironically, that which is called a God sighting is at the same time a mirror which reflects back to me my human failings. God sightings are in front of me every day, but as Ezekiel wrote, I am a son of man. I am a rebellious person. I have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear. Great post! Thanks for the reminder.

FYH said...

What a beautiful b&w shot!

Gina Kleinworth said...

Beautiful post & photo

Mommy2Four said...

WHat a beautiful post! I have a good friend who calls those "God Shots" :)

4 Lettre Words said...

Wow, Kathleen. What a post! So very true.

Michelle said...

Ouch!! Sometimes our lessons are painful!! How right you are!! I need to be more aware of my negativity and turn it around for the kids. What's that saying, turn a frown upside down?

Thank you for the thought provoking post!!

Blessings this week!

Anne U @ hot coffee mama said...

Great focus, beautiful photo.

Courtney said...

Beautiful post! I love it!

Michelle R said...

Wow. Wouldn't we all be happier if we looked for and really saw God's blessings instead of complaining about what we don't have... :)

great post and awesome b&w photo!

Amy @ Cheeky Cocoa Beans said...

Lovely post! Certainly something we all need to be reminded of.

And, yes, God really does have a sense of humor! I could tell you about my children's birth stories, for one thing... ;)

LoriM said...

Wow, this is a God sighting, just reading this. I love this idea and try to do it personally, but our pastor just last week said he and his wife try to do it daily, together. Thanks for your part in inspiring me - AGAIN - to try this with Rob...