A—Appreciate : Recognize with Gratitude

I am beginning again ... in many things. This is not a "new" process, but a fresh one—different than others new beginnings, which I guess is always true. Circumstances are never exactly the same. 

Two years ago, I attempted to do the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge and got 1.5 posts in before I couldn't keep up. One year long ago, I think I did more but also did not finish (not even close). I remember trying to plan for a future year and collect alphabetical topics, but then they started themes. 

What changed for my attempt this year?

I heard God speak to my heart earlier this year, and I have not followed through: Find something to say every day.

My nerdsy self! Oh my. I wrestled with that. Is it to be public? Private? Social media? Non-social media? (LOL! Sometimes that's my favorite kind: nonsocial.) Old-school pen and paper? Google docs? Scrivener?

So here I am again. 

Because I recently had a major experience in Ireland that resulted in a new beginning, maybe I can use the GRATITUDE theme to explore in bits what a spiritual fresh start means for me. This isn't meant to entreat the masses. I just want to gather my own reflections and challenge myself to officially find something to say each day.

appreciate* (verb) ə-ˈprē-shē-ˌāt 

transitive verb

1 a : to grasp the nature, worth, quality, or significance of

  b : to value or admire highly

  c : to judge with heightened perception or understanding : be fully aware of

  d : to recognize with gratitude

2 : to increase the value of

intransitive verb

: to increase in number or value

Before I launch into my first highlighted moment, I want to document that this was not at all what I thought God would do in Ireland. My expectation was that He would pick up with a mandate from two years prior where He asked me to petition Him regarding a prophecy I received. I did, and I kind of "left it there"—as if I threw my hands up and celebrated with a "Woohoo!" before walking out of that special place where and just counted it done. I didn't know how to tap into the execution of petitions, and am just now learning, so I thought that would be the objective for this sister trip. 

[Note: Scotland in the footsteps of Saint Columba was the first trip; Ireland in the footsteps of Saint Patrick was the second.]

My first moment I choose to APPRECIATE or recognize with gratitude is marked by communion and covenant. I suppose I could go into this more in two days for the letter C! I may. 

To explain this image, we were halfway through the journey and exploring Downpatrick. Our first stop was to The Saint Patrick Centre where I had the aha moment of finding a ring to express what God had done in me that weekend. Following, were in Saul Church for a time of prayer and communion, where I snapped this image with U (aka "you" to those I was "bring along" with me).

Finding a ring was only slightly premeditated. During dinner the night before, I shared with a couple the highly personal workings of the Lord in the previous days where I had betrothed myself to Him and His call for me. I made a slight comment something like, "I almost feel as if I need a ring!" In the gift shop as women perused jewelry, I remembered the statement, and there was one ring in my size. VOILA!

*"appreciate." Merriam-Webster.com. (30 March 2025).

#AtoZChallenge
#DiscoverGratitude
#WordStudy

The "I" Project

In 2004, I started the "I Project" which involved rediscovering myself. At the time, I had come upon some shocking news that my husband was a closet pedophile and a master manipulator who had been emotionally abusing everyone near him. Hard to believe until I got involved with professionals who deal with these kinds of things all the time. It was true.  I had unknowingly married an abuser, and I had lost myself.

I started to look through photos of decades past and read old journal entries.  I was looking for things that resonated with the "real me" that I had forgotten.  What I found was AMAZING! 

Without going into details, it turns out that I knew more than I had ever realized.  It seemed like my dreams and even my inner thoughts knew what was happening, but my logical mind fought it because I thought I was being selfish.

The big lesson? TRUST myself ... as long as I was committed to God's will and seeking His path, I should have trusted what seemed like me.  Evidently it was His Spirit in me. 

Lesson learned?  Not quite.  I had to go through a few more years in the opposite ditch before I was able to separate myself from the past - good and bad - and simply seek God.

One night on my balcony, I burned photos and memorabilia that was significant to a subsequent relationship that never quite got to the place of having God first.  It hurt.  But it was also cleansing.

Since then I have had continued challenges, but my foremost aim - even amidst repentance for being human far too much (LOL - like we all are) - is to keep God in His place in my heart. 

I am thankful for grace, forgiveness, redemption, and restoration.  He is a VERY good God, and I am so humbly grateful to be His. :-)