Book Review : One Thousand Gifts

"That is the beginning and I smile. I can't believe how I smile. I mean, they are just the common things and maybe I don't even know they are gifts until I write them down. Gifts He bestows. "

Ann Voskcamp, One Thousand Gifts

I picked this book up at Cole's a couple of months ago. It was in their two for $15 section, so I thought, "Why not? I've always been curious about this book.I follow Ann Voskamp on Facebook. I wonder what the whole message of this book is." So I grabbed it. Added it to my stack of books at home. Only recently did I pick it up to start reading it.

Enveloped in beautifully gilded prose, Ann Voskamp adventures into the discovery of the meaning behind Eurcharisteo - giving thanks in all things. Haven't you too, wondered what it means to give thanks, to experience grace upon grace, to consider it all a pure joy, to rejoice in the Lord daily?

If you've asked yourself these questions, this book has answers! Ann Voskamp breaks down what it means to be thankful in all things, and in this type of thankfulness - Eucharisteo - the joy, intimacy, and fullness of God's grace towards us is discovered.

Written from a perspective that I can relate to -a farmer's wife, Ann uses captivating anecdotes from her own life to show that God's goodness can be found in literally everything. Everything. Read that one more time: EVERYTHING! Her exceptional story telling skills along with carefully chosen scripture and quotes from well-known followers of Christ weaves an unforgettable journey into the exploration of daring to live fully in a spirit of gratitude.

Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. This book has challenged me in many ways. First of all, I felt called to repent for the ungrateful attitude that I have had towards God - thinking that somehow He owes me more than what He has already poured out over my life. The level of deception from the Enemy in training us to think that we somehow deserve more is rampant. Second, I was challenged to change how I was seeing my life. There is always something to be grateful for, even in the most horrendous of circumstances, Divine grace is woven into it. Third, I love how Ann points out (this is a key running theme in this book) how Jesus, on the night when He was about to be betrayed, broke bread & gave thanks...

If my Saviour, who knew the fate that He was about to face, could still pour out His heart in gratitude to the Father, then how much more can I pour out my heart in gratitude to the Father and the One Who Saves?

Why Love This Book

I've noticed a trend on Social Media lately in regards to practising gratitude. It seems to be the latest thing to do. "Say the things that I'm thankful for & in return good will come back to me" is the message that is portrayed. Contrary to how society does gratitude, One Thousand Gifts is not focused on worldly, self-serving, list making, mantra-chanting gratitude. It's focused on Jesus - gratitude. He modelled how we should practice Eucharisteo in its' fullness. With this God-lens perspective, gratitude is to edify fellow believers, to glorify God and to testify to His grace towards us. Ann gently points us towards the truth: genuine thankfulness cannot be found outside of Jesus.

Another reason why I love this book is how real Ann is in it. She doesn't leave out the messy parts of life. They are addressed head-on. Real life stories about real life people who are exploring what genuine thankfulness looks like. People like me. Messy hearts. Messy lives. All coated in the goodness found in Jesus.

This book is a story-telling book. If you love a well-written story, you will enjoy this exploration into radical gratitude and the discovery of grace.

xo, Alyssa