During recovery from a recent procedure, I wanted something a little lighter to read than my more typical theological or educational choices. I chose One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, with an expectation that I’d probably not like it. Surprise, I liked it. A lot. Likely you are at least vaguely familiar with this best-selling book. It had more depth than I expected. It is devotional and encouraging, but Voskamp is clearly well-read and has a good grasp of theology so that she was able to write this devotional book through a theological lens, seeing God at work in everyday life and circumstances.
Voskamp is a mother of 6 children living on a farm in rural Ontario, Canada. Clearly Voskamp’s identity is in Christ, first and foremost, which enables her writing to appeal to a variety of people even if they don’t happen to be wives, mothers, or rural farmers. Such as me! I have very little in common with Voskamp, except the Christian faith, and that is (and should be) enough for us to relate to each other. Unfortunately, I find too many female Christian authors are unable to communicate in this way. Instead of expressing God’s truths as a female (as I feel Voskamp has done so well), they can only discuss distinctly female issues through the narrow lens of being a wife or mom – which alienates those who are not wives or mothers or simply in a different stage of life. But to move on…
The book seemed to be born of a journal where Voskamp recorded 1,000 things she was thankful for in life. I was touched and challenged by so many of her thoughts, and plan to begin my own gratitude journal. Voskamp walks us through different events of her life, weaving in biblical thoughts on gratitude, contentment, and seeing God at work in everyday life. Christ is a focus throughout the book as we are reminded of the cross and our gratitude flowing from Christ’s work for us. Besides biblical references, the book is enriched by quotes from theological heavyweights like Tim Keller, John Calvin, GK Chesterton, JI Packer, CS Lewis, John Piper, Augustine, etc.
I realize there was some controversy surrounding this book, and you can find negative reviews. But again, I liked it! Sometimes I think certain people go after every book with a theological magnifying glass determined to find something wrong with it. I will admit that Voskamp’s writing style (rather poetical at times) is usually not my thing but I appreciated it none-the-less.
[The following note added later after the review was initially published: I also think it is important to remember that creative or poetical writing is understood differently than formal or academic writing. However, I found her interaction with theological heavyweights, as referenced above, gave the book balance in regards to the poetical approach.]
I borrowed this book from my church library so unfortunately I could not highlight or underline things. Before returning it, I jotted down some excerpts that I wanted to remember (from both Voskamp and others she quotes), and noted that many came from one chapter, “Go Lower.” I will share a few of them here:
“Theories and theology stillbirth unless they can take on some skin, breathe in the polluted air of this world, and make it happen.” [In other words, theology should affect how you live your life!]
An excerpt from a Mark Buchanan’s book The Rest of God: “Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I’ve ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing…Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away.”
“God created the world out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.” Martin Luther
“If the heights of our joy are measured by the depths of our gratitude, and gratitude is but a way of seeing, a spiritual perspective of smallness might offer a vital way of seeing especially conducive to gratitude.”
“Expectations kill….Instead of filling with expectations, the joy-filled expect nothing – and are filled.”
“While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving.”
“Dare I ask what i think I deserve? A life of material comfort? A life free of all trials, all hardships, all suffering? A life with no discomfort, no inconvenience? Are there times that a sense of entitlement – expectations – is what inflates self, detonates anger, offends God, extinguishes joy?”
** For anyone interested, another brief excerpt from the book here: Lament vs. Complaining.
⇒ If you find the general content of my blog, or a particular post helpful, please consider sharing it. The buttons below make it easy to share a post. Thanks!
⇒ Consider subscribing if you’d like to receive an e-mail notification when there is a new post on Enough Light. See the right column.
Enough Light 
Nice review, Laura. This piqued my interest in the book. I vaguely recall some negative press, but none of the content of their gripes. You’ve made the book sound lovely, and I may need to read it myself!
I agree with you about the female authors talking about female issues from a mom/wife lens, BTW. As a mom and wife, though, I find myself falling into that trap too easily (ugh) and sometimes unable to express what the alternative would be.
Hi Laura, thanks! Voskamp did share much about her life as a mom and wife of a rural farmer. Yet, somehow it wasn’t alienating and I found myself connecting to many of her thoughts. I’m not quite sure how to best articulate it (as I attempted in my one paragraph). I guess she wrote as a Christian first, and as a mom/wife second, and that came through in her writing. While for too many other female writers that I’ve encountered, they write as a mom/wife first and as a Christian second?? Again can’t quite express it the way I’d like…
I’ve heard/read some not good things about this book, including things like panentheism and sexual talk about God. Also, something about Adam co-creating with God, which is not biblical. However, I don’t like her writing style (tried reading her blog) so it’s not a book that I would read for myself, so am going off other’s opinions of it. I like the premise of being thankful for all the little things in life. That is something we should all develop in our lives.
Hi Twiga92, yes I vaguely referenced the negative reviews in my post. I’d specifically remembered the panentheism criticism when I was reading the book, and I did not see it at all. I’ll admit that I’m not the most philosophical person, but I did not see it.
And having just freshly read the book, I have no recollection of any sexual talk about God. That really puzzles me. I don’t remember any sex talk for that matter – let alone in relation to God.
Nor do I remember anything about Adam co-creating with God. The author seems a orthodox believer, and I’d have a hard time believing Voskamp thinks Adam was co-creator. I guess I’d have to see the exact passages these negative reviewers are referring too. But I did not pick up on them.
I generally consider myself a discerning person, that can often sense something being “not quite right” theologically even if I can’t put my finger on it. And I did not get that sense with this book. But I was recovering from surgery so maybe my brain was off! haha!
Her writing style is not my typical style preference either, but for some reason I truly did enjoy this book.
Pingback: Lament vs. complaining | Enough Light
I have read this book and love it too.. I also love her blog.
Pingback: My Top Ten books for 2014 | Enough Light
Well, Laura, old friend, you’re late to the party, but I’m glad you got here! I also loved Voskamp’s book, and like you, I don’t usually read this type of book. She breathes God’s breath along with Him; for her, everyday is saturated, dripping with God. Sure, it’s not a technically written, exegetical book, but wouldn’t it be grand if more theologians with “all the right answers” were as intoxicated with Jesus, imbibed with the Holy Spirit, as Ann Voskamp?
Well, this post is from 2014, but even then I was late reading this book. Yea, I typically don’t read books when they are popular but tend to wait for the dust to settle…for various reasons I guess. Maybe I am suspect of books that “everyone” is reading? Glad you appreciated it as well. Thanks for stopping by the blog. And “Amen” to your last sentence!