1000 gifts
05.16.2012 
The tiny journal the color of a robin’s egg snugly fits in my hand. I open it and write the number one, then “underwear.”
A new friend gave me the journal at our book club - my first book club. I love words and I love books. How I never got in a book club before now is a mystery. Our first book in my first book club was One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.
On this morning, I rushed to the gym. I have reached a new level of commitment to re-conquer my body and health. This includes a grueling 30 minutes with Joey at Temple Fitness three times a week. As I drove down Del Rio, I realized I had forgotten a towel. I needed to shower there at the gym in order to make it to book club on time. Walgreens is on the way, I’ll just pick up a towel, right? Then it hit me, I had forgotten underwear.
What to do?
In accord with this new commitment, I pointed the grey Odyssey toward Temple Fitness and did not look back. I finished the book on the treadmill at times groaning aloud as my spirit absorbed these hallowed words. After one hour of walking and holding on to the rail and not being able to tear my eyes away from the page, I stumbled outside in the sun to finish it. I bawled aloud as the Tennessee sun baked the back of my neck.
I collected myself and found the shower. Let me spare you the details but just say that I am not made to shower at the gym and then walk out glowing and ready for the next meeting. I need my space and my stuff. Obviously.
I arrived a little early to two of my new friends with margaritas sitting in sunlight. My necklace in my hand, I sat down and explained to them that I was still getting dressed and my hair was still wet. Kim says this makes her like me even more. I think, “if you only knew.”
We enjoyed green corn tamales and shrimp tacos and grazed on Voskamp’s words. Can we live a life of gratitude? Can we thank when God chooses to blow our minds and our expectations? Can we trust when our hearts are blistered? And we even touched on the last scandalous chapter... Can we union with our God?
What an honor to attempt to map out the heart with these women and to be known. I did not tell them about the underwear. But I busted through the door at home and before I ran to my dresser, I opened my new notebook and gave thanks. Number one of one thousand things I will find.
Opening the hand to receive the moments. Trusting what is received to be grace. Taking it as bread... We take the moments as bread and give thanks and the thanks itself becomes bread. The thanks itself nourishes. Thanks feeds our trust. -Ann Voskamp
1000 gifts, gratitude
Reader Comments (4)
I'm am laughing out loud! Getting to the gym is one thing , but showering there and getting dressed there (or not) is just as you have written. I love to read your blog. Today in my journal I will put I will write, "I am thankful God gave me friends who drink while the sun is still up, in public, without their underwear.
A blistered heart that is thankful,
Susan
That is too funny!! I hate showering at the gym and never feel I look quite right afterwards. I've not forgotten my underwear yet but know it's coming.
Yes. Now that you've read this!
Only a true book lover would not let the absence of underwear hinder her going to book club!! It is clear you love words more than undergarments!! Maybe words should have been your number one instead! Great story!
b