by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Family Life has been a blessing via radio for years. Imagine my delight when I saw 10 Ways to Build Gratitude Into Our Children’s Hearts by Darcy Kimmel posted on their Web site.
What I appreciate most about Darcy’s post? Not only is her insight spot-on, the ten ways are also pithy, practical and downright powerful.
One of the greatest gifts we can sow into the hearts of our children and grandchildren is gratitude and this article is a great place to start.
After reading the ten ways, #3 particularly spoke to me: Stop your grumbling. In recent weeks God has aimed a megawatt spotlight on my tendency to grumble. A little here, a little there. Sigh. I didn’t recognize it as such but nonetheless I finally called it by name. Grumbling. The opposite of praise.
Because I want to build gratitude into my life, and in that of my family, I plan to spend time today reading through and praying over Darcy’s list again.
Care to join me? I’d love to hear if there was a particular way that spoke to you.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Searching for ways to make Thanksgiving a little more meaningful?
1. Read the history of Thanksgiving. Here’s an option from The Christian Coalition.
2. Make a Thanksgiving Tree. This will be a must when the grandchildren get a wee bit older. One quick trip to Pinterest and we’ll have a plethora of ideas to choose from.
3. Include others in your celebration. Do you have a lonely neighbor, a recent widow, or a college student you could invite?
4. Put everyone’s name in a hat and share one reason you’re thankful for the person’s name that’s drawn.
5. Read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I remember reading this for the first time and being mesmerized by her lyrical form.
Enjoy!
Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks. Nothing
is to be sneered at and thrown out. God’s Word and our prayers make
every item in creation holy. 1 Timothy 4:4-5
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Today, let’s focus on Thanksgiving! We’ll turn our attention to Christmas on Monday.
Thankfulness: Write it down.
So, what better opportunity to write someone who has left an indelible impression on your life? Be as specific as possible when sharing why you’re thankful for them. Tell them how they made you feel or how God used them to draw you closer to Him. An email will do, but nothing trumps a handwritten note for the personal touch.
Another way to share the gift of thankfulness in the written form is to give thought as to why you’re thankful for those who will be seated around your Thanksgiving table. Purchase white place cards or make them yourself (very easy!) On the front, write the person’s name. Inside, begin with “Why I’m thankful for you” and then share one reason you’re thankful for them. Take turns reading the cards around the table, inviting others to share why they’re also thankful for each person.
One last idea is to begin, if you haven’t already, a gratitude journal. A great place to start is by reading Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts. I’m currently enjoying the devotional that goes along with the book. Inside, there’s space to jot down our own 1,000 gifts of gratitude.
Simple but oh so meaningful.
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you
a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having
the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope
to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious
inheritance in the saints…” Ephesians 1:16-18
