Lately, I feel like I have way too many tabs open.
You know when you’ve got so many tabs open on your computer that you can’t even see what half of them are anymore? That’s a little bit what life has felt like for the last several months. And some of these tabs aren’t things I can just finish up and close. They involve people I love, things I’m responsible for, and things I don’t have much control over. In many cases, I can’t close this tab till I close that one, but that one is waiting on a decision or action from someone else. It’s been a bit crazy, is what I’m saying.
But now, I’m thinking about the holidays coming, and I really am looking forward to them. But I can also feel how easy it would be to keep moving from one thing to the next and get to January thinking, “Well, we made it through.”
I don’t want to just make it through.
I want to be present with my people. I want to remember why we’re celebrating in the first place. I want to spend time with the story of Jesus coming into the world, and remember that the people in that story were actual humans living actual lives. Their days didn’t pause so they could take in everything God was doing.
And maybe that’s part of why I keep coming back to gratitude right now.
Hey there, Figs. I’m Rose, and this is a little introduction to our upcoming season, Gratitude for the Life You’re Actually Living.
Practicing Gratitude in the Life We’re Actually Living
A few years ago, God took me through a season of teaching me how to live from a place of gratitude. It changed so much in my life. I know what it can do in my heart.
Yet, here I am, telling you that I’ve been overwhelmed in my very actual human life. So I’m coming into this season needing the invitation again, myself.
I don’t think all the tabs are going to close between now and the holidays. Maybe yours won’t either. But I do think we can turn our attention toward God while they’re still open. We can notice where He’s meeting us. And remember ways He’s helped us before. We can thank Him for something good without pretending the hard thing beside it isn’t hard.
That’s what I mean by gratitude for the life you’re actually living.
I mean this life. The one where something beautiful might happen on the same day something difficult happens. The one with people you love and people you miss. The one with unanswered questions, ordinary routines, plans you’re excited about, and things you wish were different.
I don’t want to ask you to feel grateful for everything that happens. I want to remind us to pay attention to God’s goodness in the middle of what’s happening. Sometimes we notice it right away. But sometimes we need to look back to see how He carried us. And sometimes we need each other to help us remember.
What We’ll Explore in This Gratitude Season
So, beginning November 3, we’re going to spend six weeks together exploring gratitude. We’ll make room for truth and for noticing God’s goodness. Talk about trusting Him when we’re still in the messy middle of the hard things. We’ll remember how God has helped us, explore ways to express our thanks, and eventually find ourselves looking toward hope.
This Is Not a Gratitude Challenge
And I want to tell you something now, before we start: this is not a gratitude challenge.
There’s no list to complete. You don’t have to watch every episode the week it comes out, and there’s no way to get behind. If you join me for all six weeks, I’d love that. If you find one episode in December because it’s what you need that day, I’d love that too.
I’m hoping these conversations give us room to practice gratitude in small, ordinary ways. Maybe you’ll notice something on a drive. Or a song will remind you who God has been to you. Maybe as you sit with your Bible, a verse will remind you of a time He stepped into your chaos and brought even a flicker of peace.
Help Shape the Season: Stories, Songs, and Scriptures
And I would really love for you to be part of shaping this season.
What helps turn your heart toward gratitude? Do you have a practice, even a teeny-tiny one, that helps you notice God? Is there a moment you look back on and think, “Thus far, the Lord has helped me”?
I’d also love to know what songs and Scriptures you return to when you want to remember His goodness. I’ll be putting together a music playlist and a Scripture playlist for us all, and I would love to include what’s been meaningful to you.
You can send me a song, a verse, a few sentences about a moment in your life, or a longer story if you want to. Some of what you share may become part of an episode, a post, or one of the resources I’m making for this season. You’ll find a link to email me and a link to the conversation on social media in the description below—or in the show notes if you’re listening to the podcast.
A Creative Ebenezer Journaling Gathering
And one special date to hold onto: November 22. I’m planning a casual Creative Ebenezer Journaling Gathering. An Ebenezer is a way of remembering, “God helped me here.” We’ll make some space to remember together and create something that helps us carry that memory with us. I’ll share more details as we get closer.
For now, I just wanted to open the door and invite you in.
I’m starting this with plenty of tabs still open. If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. We can bring the lives we’re actually living and see what happens as we make room to notice, remember, and thank God together.
I’ll see you November 3.
A Creative Ebenezer Journaling Gathering
And one special date to hold onto: November 22. I’m planning a casual Creative Ebenezer Journaling Gathering. An Ebenezer is a way of remembering, “God helped me here.” We’ll make some space to remember together and create something that helps us carry that memory with us. I’ll share more details as we get closer.
For now, I just wanted to open the door and invite you in.
I’m starting this with plenty of tabs still open. If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. We can bring the lives we’re actually living and see what happens as we make room to notice, remember, and thank God together.
I’ll see you November 3.
Continue the Conversation
If this resonated with you, here are a few ways to keep exploring.