Joy Dare

January 15

2012-01-15T20:11:00.000-08:00

one thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared

43. odd sweaterish like nothing else I own, that is lovely and soft and interesting

44. five dozen meatballs at a wedding potluck

45. shared in a celebration, where two people close to retirement lived the truth in the verse "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

January 14

2012-01-14T21:20:00.000-08:00

Three ways you glimpsed the startling grace of God.

Two things that were gifts, that don't fit today's category:

- homemade meatballs, my own, that turned out well

- shopping with my son. Pleasant chatting, stress-free trip.

And for today's category.

Grace.

How does the saying going? Justice is getting what you deserve, mercy is not getting what you deserve, grace is getting what you don't deserve?

And it is just possible that I often? sometimes? treat God with the same lack of consideration that my teenager treats me.

And what is His response to that?

He lavishes me with His love.

Hmm.

January 13

2012-01-13T12:16:00.001-08:00

Three sounds you hear

37. birdsong in January

38. Amy reading to Sarah and Sam

39. "Thank you for the hot chocolate."

January 12.

2012-01-12T22:04:00.000-08:00

34. something above you: clear sky

35. something below you: slip on ice grips for my shoes on a late night walk with my dog

36. something beside you: a curl of sleeping dog

January 11

2012-01-12T22:01:00.000-08:00

three yellow things that strike you as fresh mercy

31. clean bathtowel

32. and 33. yellowed cotton on the crocheted potholders Brads grandmother gave us as a wedding gift almost 30 years ago. I hung them on the wall today, because pretty things are meant to be enjoyed, not tucked away in a drawer.

January 10

2012-01-12T21:55:00.002-08:00

28. a gift that's sour: sore shoulder that forces me to sit and work on my book

29. a gift that's sweet: Amy's laugh

30. a gift that's Just. Right. text message from Nancy

January 9

2012-01-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

25. a gift in your hand: teeny tiny stitch holders custom made for me

26. a gift you walked by: Brad

27. a gift you sat with: my family at supper

January 8

2012-01-12T21:51:00.000-08:00

22. light that caught you:

23. a reflection that surprised you:

24. a shadow that fell lovely:

Again, an "observe this that day" kind of thing. but I know three things I was thankful for Sunday.

22. Brad being able to sleep in

23. Bringing pizza to Mom's for supper

24. A longer visit with my Mom

January 7

2012-01-12T21:47:00.000-08:00

3 graces from people you love. These will not be from exactly that day because that's too hard to remember.

19. "you know what's AWESOME?" from my daughter. "You never make me miss an opportunity."

20. "Notice anything different?" note tucked into my laptop by my son, who traded earbuds with me for the day.

21. Christmas money from my mother

January 6

2012-01-12T21:44:00.000-08:00

16. one thing in my bag: clip on light for the Kindle

17. one thing in my fridge: homemade sauerkraut soup

18. one thing in my heart: "I am so glad that Jesus loves me."

January 5

2012-01-12T21:39:00.002-08:00

13. something I'm reading: Angela Hunt's "Afton of Margate Castle". One of her older ones, maybe even one of her earliest books, but a very good read.

14. something I'm making: fingerless mitts, out of sock yarn purchased in the Netherlands. Funky yarn, good memories.

15. something I'm seeing: lighted Christmas tree in the dark living room

January 4

2012-01-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

10. one gift old: my father's recliner

11. one gift new: my new Kindle

12: one gift blue: tupperware tumblers that hold 16 oz.

January 3

2012-01-12T21:36:00.001-08:00

three lines you overheard that were graces:

...I may have to come back and fill these in ;) these feel like a "pay attention as you're out among the people" thing.

January 2

2012-01-12T21:35:00.000-08:00

(some of these will be a bit tricky as I'm going from memory until I'm caught up.)

4. a gift outside: my son is tall enough to change the light bulbs on the outside light

5. inside: the coleus we got at Ladies Retreat is still alive

6. on a plate: peppermint brownies Brad's Mom sent home with us

January 1 - three things about yourself you are grateful for

2012-01-12T18:22:00.001-08:00

January's list is here.

I almost didn't do this because of this first one. It's taken me twelve days to get past my initial reaction, which was to say "For a fat girl, I don't sweat much" three times.

But that's what the other blog is for.

Here's the list that isn't flippant.

1. my sense of humour

2. my capacity for deep connection

3. my ability to admit (even if it is sometimes eventually) that I'm wrong

So here's the thing ...

2012-01-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

I tend to read blogs that are similar to what I write - kind of sideways glances at my real life, making fun of myself when I can ...

The Joy Dare is completely different from that.

But I have as many hidden hurts as the next person, and I know that praise is pro-active, and praise begins with gratitude.

Let the thankfulness begin.