Ann Voskamp, author of One Thousand Gifts, is one of the most intentional writers I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. She slows us down so we may realize the moments we’re missing in our own small lives–lives that seem so insignificant at first, and then we see the beauty and grace and love God surrounds us with and we understand that we aren’t insignificant at all. God wants us to understand the things of beauty He provides in our lives and to be grateful for them. But we miss it in our busyness, daily stresses and worries.
I do have to warn you, though, Ann’s writing cannot be hurriedly read. As a matter of fact, I almost gave up on the book when I first started because she writes in such a way that is more like poetry than everyday speech. But I decided to give it through at least the first chapter, and I’m so glad I did. By the end of that chapter she had me in tears because of her perspective on God’s grace and how to thank Him through all of the difficulties of life. Ann has not lived a life of all sweetness and roses. She’s definitely had her share of heartache. But she gives God thanks for all of the small things that we count as ordinary or boring. She brings beauty to the ordinary. I believe she writes the way she does so we must slow down and appreciate the words she shares.
The theme of her book is eucharisteo, which basically means thanksgiving. But there is so much more richness to this word that begs her to ask the question, “Is the height of my chara joy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks?”
In our culture that takes so much we for granted, she causes us to stop and look for the blessings surrounding us at every turn, challenging us to make our own list of one thousand gifts. If you want a book that will bring a fresh wave of grace and perspective to your Christian walk, this is the one.