Day 2 of The Purposeful Gratitude Project

Gratitude, according to Wikipedia, is "a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive." I like that word acknowledgement because it suggest an understanding of personal recognition shared outward. It's like, "I know this and now I want to tell someone else what I know." In regards to being thankful, I know this. I know that I am a very blessed woman and I want to take a moment to tell God Thank You! So here's my list for today:

Today I am grateful for:

1. My father. My dad loving takes care of my wheel-chair bound mom. He's not in the greatest shape himself, but he makes sure she's comfortable. Every time I visit them in Jersey, and watch him with her, I am reminded of what my mother really meant when she used to say, "love is what love does."
2. Jessie. Jessie is one of my prayer partners who is away on vacation in Florida, but she thought about the Sisterin' (my prayer group) and surprised us with a phone call. Jessie is the kind of person who acts on her instincts ... she did this morning, and it was a delightful gesture.
3. Ideas. These days my mind seems to be overflowing with ideas, thoughts, dreams, goals, visions. I attribute this to making the commitment to this project. I believe I have opened up my world because the ideas for book projects, client marketing, etc. just keep coming!
4. Kind strangers. I stopped to get gas and this gentleman not only waited for me to get to the door, he opened it for me, and greeted me with the warmest smile. It prompted me to do the same for a lady who came into the store as I was leaving. It felt great.
5. Adrian. I got a letter from him yesterday and it made me smile. May the love I feel for him go through the Cosmos and find him in SC and whisper, "Mom loves you!"

The Purpose of Your Gift

I love this time of the year! Generally speaking, people are little nicer. For instance, they let you get in front of them in traffic, smile, and the CVS cashier who hardly spoke all year wishes you a "Happy Holiday!" I also love the gifts ... giving and receiving.

Now, as a devout Christian, I am focused more on the gift I have received in the person of Jesus Christ. Today, Christmas Day, is John 3:16 manifested: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son..." And really, that's the real purpose of a gift! We give to show our love, or at least we should. With love as the premise of gift-giving that ugly tie or sweater doesn't look as bad because the person who gave it did so to show their love.


I believe the purpose of your gift, like the gift God gave us, is to demonstrate your love. That's it! So the question becomes: are we giving out of "it's-that-time-of-the-year" obligation OR are we giving because we have so much love for the one we're giving to we just want them to know it?


Without shame, I say to you all MERRY CHRISTMAS!



The Purpose Professor
"Teaching people how to succeed on purpose."
Life On Purpose LLC
www.lifeonpurposellc.com

"Life with no purpose is no life at all!"