A Basket of Gratitude

This is a piece I wrote almost 10 years ago. It won a $100 contest prize and was my first published article (AWE magazine Fall 2003). I hope you enjoy my trip down memory lane.

Gratitude is like…a basket that God gives me to store the quilt scraps of each past experience until He is ready to use them in the design He has in mind for me. My gratitude basket helps me to gain perspective on each circumstance that I have had to face so far. My gratitude basket reminds me that I am never alone. I have learned that dependence on Him is His special gift to my heart. God stores all these baskets up in the attic of my mind so that I can easily retrieve them. Each fabric piece that I have paced inside a basket represents a part of the circumstance that I am so grateful for now. Try to imagine the colors as I describe each piece of cloth. There are many: prayers, bible study, waiting, tears, special people, revelations, waiting, confirmations, waiting, changes to be made, fear, waiting, hope, laughter, promises, selfishness, waiting, give up yet?, obedience, humility, grace, attitude changes, maturity, waiting, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, dreams, future, storm is calm, victory is won, promotion. The pieces are endless; yet, each is necessary to make the quilt complete. One less piece would leave a hole. The Father Himself is the only one that has the vision and willingness to see me through until the quilt is complete. But whatever He has envisioned for this quilt to look like, it must be something really beautiful. He always has my best interest at heart.

How full is your basket of gratitude? Let your heart be filled anew with gratitude for His faithfulness and all the things He has seen you through. How is your quilt coming along? Remember...no matter what, God the Father has your best interest at heart.