Read With Me \\ One Thousand Gifts (Week Two)

This week I'm discussing Chapter Three and Chapter Four of One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Last week I discussed Chapter One and Chapter Two, and the week before that I introduced this Read With Me series.

I'm really enjoying this book. I'm glad I planned to move slowly through the book, because with each chapter I enjoy taking a few days to digest and reflect. These two chapters are my favorites so far.


Chapter 3: First Flight

This writing it down—it is sort of like … unwrapping love. (pg. 45)

This chapter is all about Ann's first attempt at writing her one thousand gifts.

1. Morning shadows across the old floors
2. Jam piled high on the toast
3. Cry of blue jay from high in the spruce (pg.45)

She is awkward at first but soon the numbers start flowing. She notices a change right away. No longer is she rushing, rushing but pausing to take notice of the simplest of gifts.

My favorite part of this chapter is when Ann stops to photograph "wisps" of cheese on a plate. Stopping to notice the beauty of wisps of cheese and then thank God for those wisps isn't something I think of regularly. But I'll probably never look at cheese the same way after this.

My favorite quote from this chapter comes from page 58.

God is not in need of magnifying by us so small, but the reverse. It's our lives that are little and we have falsely inflated self, and in thanks we decrease and the world returns right.

Chapter 4: A Sanctuary of Time

I just want time to do my one life well. (pg. 67)

This chapter is about time. My favorite part of this chapter is when Ann discusses the Christian's view on time, or, at least, what the Christian's view should be. If we have all of eternity because of our salvation, why are we constantly rushing? If we have so much life to look forward to, why are we wasting our time worried and anxious?

Taking moments to take pictures of cheese or pausing to discover the wonder of a bubble ... surely we have time for such things. Surely we owe it to God who gave us our full lives to stop and give thanks and marvel at what He has given us.

I've started my list. I have already noticed change. I'm stopping more, writing more, and thanking God more. I think this could work.

1. Raindrops falling on a dusty ground
2. Ice cold milk in a tall, frosty glass
3. The soft lick of a puppy's tongue