Women's Empowerment Stories ...

Thanks-Living, One Day at a Time
~ Jennifer T. Heron

Creating a praise journal keeps Jennifer focused on all that she has.

We live for the precious moments of joy, though all too soon we forget them. Four years ago, a praise journal became the answer to my desire to keep a record of God’s goodness much like the Israelites did as part of their oral tradition. I’ve discovered that the benefits are beyond anything I could ever have imagined. Now I can look back, recall the good times, and give thanks. I can live more confidently because I know that eventually the clouds will clear and there will be brighter days. Most of all, I can hope. When I think of past times, savor them and learn from them, my faith grows stronger.

I remember the idea came to me on Thanksgiving Sunday after hearing Rev. Benjamin preach about “Thanks-living.” That day, I went home like a woman on a mission. I found a spiral notebook. It was just the right size and had the right cover—fuchsia and yellow smiley faces! It’s amazing how once you decide to take action, everything you need is right at your fingertips. I didn’t have to make a special trip to the store to purchase a ‘real’ journal or buy special pens. With no excuses, and no reasons to procrastinate, I was ready to begin my project. God knew that I needed to be prepared and He put everything in place for my journey to spiritual enlightenment.

And what a journey it has been! I wrote of the joys of our first family reunion in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We decided to have it in July to coincide with Mama’s eightieth birthday celebration. My sister, Kay and I, did most of the planning and organizing. There were disagreements, conflicts, and the usual family squabbles. But when Sunday morning came, Mama and her nine adult children stood up in the congregation of Bethel Baptist Church as the announcement was read. Mama said that was one of her proudest moments. And for me, it remains as evidence that with prayer, patience and persistence, all things are possible.

In appreciation, I recorded one of my husband’s many acts of selfless love. Gordon has an exceptional gift of fixing things, as well as an eye for spotting potential trouble spots. So he quickly figured out that the drainage problem in the basement sink meant that he had to replace the corroded pipes. He worked alone, dismantling the parts, making trips to Home Depot, and finally hours later, the job was done. In the midst of my praise and thankfulness, he just shrugged…it was all in a day’s work. But I knew that if we had called a licensed plumber do that job on Sunday, it would have cost an arm and a leg. So I quietly thanked God for His goodness in giving me a gifted spouse.

A random review as I flipped through the pages of my past told me of times when my son, Dariel, surprised me with a gift certificate for a massage just because I worked so hard and he’d heard me say how much I’d love to be treated to a massage. That’s a love gift, I’ll always cherish.
On another page, I recorded my daughter, Juli’s kindness and care when her Dad was hospitalized for a triple-bypass. She took charge when I was caught up in an emotional maelstrom, and lost in a maze of uncertainty. She chauffeured me to and from the hospital knowing that with my limited driving experience on the busy Long Island Expressway, I’d never make it.

Thanks to my praise journal, I can look back at answers to prayers that came in unexpected ways to reassure me that God is always present and to encourage me to continue trusting God for future needs. God has given us one life, but it’s no ordinary life. It’s thanks-living, one day at a time.

A gratitude or praise journal is just one way to tap the incredible power of journaling. Check out Women at heart’s self discovery through journaling for more guidance in the many tools that are available.