Radical Gratitude

Today's post is from Mary DeMuth's blog. Mary is a gifted author and a dear friend who has encouraged me so much in my writing journey. She discusses gratitude today. By the way, one of the best books on gratitude that I've ever read (and one of my favorite books ever - and that's saying a LOT) is Ellen Vaughn's Radical Gratitude. Vaughn's compelling voice and expert storytelling will captivate your heart!

 

Now, for Mary's thoughts on gratitude:

 

"I want you to remember back when we met," my friend said to me. "Our daughters were in second grade, and you were just starting to write a column in your local paper." She smiled. "Now, in your wildest dreams, would you have guessed that in seven years, you'd be where you are today? Five books? Four more on the way? An agent? A speaker?

 

My friend confirmed something God had been juggling inside my heart. I'd taken to complaining a lot, whining about the writer's paycheck, letting that small, petty thing color the beauty of what God had done. "You're right," I told her. "I wouldn't have guessed it."

 

My friend Hud says that the greatest measure of the Christian life within us is our gratitude quotient. How thankful are we? Do we whine and complain through life, forgetting the many, many, many blessings of God? Do we grumble? I do.

 

I nearly missed out on the surprising, amazing journey God had brought me on by focusing on such a small, silly thing. When I stopped and looked over the past seven years, I realized how very blessed I am. I write. I write for a living. I have the privilege of turning phrases for the Kingdom of God's sake. When I speak and write, there are times folks write to me, or pull me aside, and tell me how those words have changed their lives. Others read blogs and are changed.

 

I morphed from bookless to bookful. From being unagented and unknown to being agented and relatively known. The dream I had from my elementary years to write a novel was realized. And that I was a finalist for a Christy on my first book just shakes me up inside (in a good way). What a privilege. What a surprise!

 

Eugene Peterson renders Psalm 116:5—8 this way: “God is gracious—it is He who makes things right, our most compassionate God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, He saved me. I said to myself, ‘Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings. Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; and you, Foot, were kept from stumbling.’”

 

My writing journey has been full of the compassionate footprints of God. I simply have to remind myself. Because, really, I want to be a grateful girl.

 

How about you? In terms of your own writing journey, how can you count your blessings today? How has God orchestrated circumstances beyond your wildest dreams? I'm all ears."

 

Thanks for sharing, Mary!