“The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see.”
Robert Holden
“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us–and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude, therefore, takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”
Thomas Merton
“The Lord is more constant and far more extravagant than it seems to imply. Wherever you turn your eyes the world can shine like transfiguration. You don’t have to bring a thing to it except a little willingness to see. Only, who could have the courage to see it?”
Marilynne Robinson
“The root of joy is gratefulness”
David Steindl-Rast
“The heavens declare the glory of God… Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”
Psalm 19:1-4
MY PRAYER today is for wonder. Wonder and gratitude always accompany one another. Today’s prayer is a poem, scribbled down during my quiet time on Sunday morning, while looking out at a sparrow on a branch in the back garden. I often think God visits us in the smallest things, in the simplest moments, like a child playing ‘peek-a-boo’, he jumps out at us, saying ‘here I am!’. And we say to ourselves, ‘yes, there you are – I knew you were here all along’.
HOLY
Where you stand is holy
Not just burning bushes
speak of me,
but the eyes that see
the holy
in the sparrow
on the tree.
You are the holy
thing I made you to be,
as you recognise,
all you perceive
brings you back
to me.
Expansive as I am,
I also contain you
in my hand,
longing to meet you
in this still
place,
right now,
where the sparrow
dances
on the flimsy branch,
and the sun glints
on new leaves.
Ana Lisa de Jong
These are drawn from daily reflections and prayers which I write for my Chaplaincy colleagues
Living Tree Poetry 
What a beautiful poem, Lisa. Your poetry is so inspired x
LikeLike
Thanks Victoria. You are a blessing for your encouragement xx
LikeLike
Yes! Now I see the JOY in your writing. Wonderful to see; thank you, much love, Mum
LikeLike
Thanks mum. Feeling is depth as well as height, as I have said in my poetry. To be honest is good and positive, as people can always relate to where we are at. Blessings.
LikeLike
Beautiful poem, Ana Lisa! I especially love these lines:
“Not just burning bushes
speak of me,
but the eyes that see
the holy
in the sparrow
on the tree.”
As we begin to glimpse glimmers of God in the extraordinary ordinary, He enlarges our ability to see more, to appreciate the holy in everything. Thank you! xo
LikeLike
So true Joy! “God enlarge our hearts to contain more of you!’ There is a beautiful quote and I can’t remember who said it or quite how it was said, but it said to live each morning, noon and sunset, knowing that what God calls heaven is just behind the scene of things. xx
LikeLike