3. Gifts & Gratitude (Examen)

“The gifts I see in you are…” 

I want to offer this prompt to you to use in a few different ways. 

The first one is this: Look in the mirror. At yourself. Make eye contact with you. Look at her with affection, with adoration, with awe. Tell her what gifts you see in you. Voice as many as you can think of in that moment. When you’re finished speaking gifts over yourself, write them down somewhere. Then consider making this a regular practice in your life. 

Second, speak gifts into a close friend, a partner, a family member. Maybe it’s over a shared meal together. Maybe it’s before bed or when you wake up in morning. If you’re able to share these gifts in person, remember to make eye contact. If you’re comfortable, hold the hands of the receiver while you are sharing with them their gifts. If you’re unable to share gifts in person, consider writing a handwritten letter and mailing the gifts you want to give by writing them down. 

And, finally, use this prompt as a prayer prompt and tell God the gifts you see in them, the gifts you experience from them. 

Lectio Divina: Psalm 34

Prayer: 

God of grace, God of good and abundant gifts. 

My gratitude overflows. 

Thank you, for being a shelter - for the wondering, the weary, the wounded and the winsome. For being a sanctuary - for the women. For the whole world. 

Amen.

To download the accompanying Examen guidebook PDF to journal through the Examen, click here. 

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Music by Jameson McGregor.