This month for one of my 30 day challenges this year I am participating in completing a gratitude journal.
Every day for 30 days I must write down 5 things I am grateful for.
Before I started my gratitude challenge, I found a reading plan through my YouVersion Bible app called “21 Days to Cultivate a Grateful Heart’ , which centers on giving daily gratitude for all things (I’ll have to stretch it past 21 days for this challenge).
I’ve been finding reading this plan extremely helpful. It keeps me from coming up with the same 5 things to be grateful for every day i.e. getting out of bed, breathing, God, family, etc.
Today’s reading was entitled “Celebrate You!” It suggested showing gratitude for “yourself and your uniqueness- physically, spiritually, emotionally.”
Wow.
I couldn’t think of the last time I celebrated myself for merely who I am. I have celebrated myself recently for things I’ve accomplished, for works I’ve done but it has been a while since I said thank you to myself just for existing. Just for being me.
When I was 24 or 25 (I can’t recall, who remembers those days of long ago) I got a tattoo on my back that says God’s Handiwork. It’s still there. I don’t remember why I wanted it at the time. In part, because I wanted to rebel by getting another tattoo in the first place but decided it would be a safe bet to inscribe something from the Bible into my skin instead of another image of a random butterfly. Mostly, I wanted it because I needed a reminder to never forget that I am owned by God. Created by His hands. Especially when it gets hard to remember.
God’s Handiwork
The scripture alongside today’s reading read:
God’s Handiwork. His workmanship. I may have ingrained the words in my skin, but why is it so hard for me to ingrain it into my brain?
To know that God created me, created us exactly as we are, flaws and all. (To quote that old Beyoncé song: “You love me flaws and all!” I had to, sorry not sorry.)
He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He created us with them in mind. He can use both for his good works and purpose. He PLANS on using both. Our good and our bad.
So today, as prompted by my Bible app plan, I looked in the mirror. I took a good looong look. Not at the things that were wrong.
I focused on everything that was right.
Here are a few of the things I told myself/thanked myself for:
You have thick beautiful kinky hair. Thank you.
You have a fighting spirit. You never give up. Thank you.
You have gorgeous brown skin. Thank you.
You are kind to others and are learning to give more. Thank you.
You are honest with yourself and others. Thank you.
I could go on. Funny thing is, once I started I found it hard to stop. And guess what? It felt good being thankful for myself! Pointing a finger at me and telling myself something great for a change.
I am and will always be His handiwork. You’re God’s handiwork, too. His masterpiece. His most precious creation, in whom He is proud.
God is using you. ALL of you.
If you haven’t done it in a while or maybe ever, take a look at yourself in the mirror. A good long look. Then point a finger at that wonderful person staring back at you and say:
Thank you.
Its me! This photo was taken by one of my favorite people on one of the best days of my life! Celebrate yourself!
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