Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV)
When a writers’ conference speaker encouraged us to start a Blessings Folder, I knew it would be a good idea. My life was falling apart, making it difficult to see anything positive. The speaker passed out copies of her favorite Bible verse and a funny story to get us started.
As soon as I got home, I put them in a folder, along with a story that my oldest son had published. My Blessings Folder became one of my lifelines during a dark time, as I filled it with encouraging cards that arrived right when I needed them, notes about miraculous provisions, and other mementos. Every treasure that I added to the folder felt like a present from Jesus, saying, I’m still here, and you still have a lot of good in your life.
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One day, I discovered that I’d run out of room in my folder. I moved my collection to a pretty box. My Blessings Box now sits on a shelf in my closest, stuffed beyond capacity—a sweet reminder of the many gifts that came from Jesus at a time when it seemed like life would never be good again.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above . . . .” We don’t need to be overwhelmed or grieving to have a reason to collect blessings. In fact, it is often when everything is going well that we miss out on them. When we make a practice of paying attention to how Jesus takes care of us and shows us I am with you; I know what you need; I know what will make you smile, we gain the ability to see the littlest things as gifts.
Faith Step: Start a Blessings Box or put a few items in the one you have that felt like gifts from Jesus when you received them.
