Can you believe Thanksgiving is only a couple of weeks away? What do you look forward to the most? With turkey, pumpkin pie, friends, family, football…Thanksgiving is a great time of food and celebration with those we love most. It is also a time to reflect and consider all the blessings God has given us during the year.
Since I started keeping a gratitude list a couple of years ago, I’ve experienced the life changing, heart transforming power that comes from counting all the graces God so generously gives. Focusing my heart on what I do have, rather than on what is lacking, has opened my eyes to all the ways God blesses me. I don’t deserve a single thing, yet each day He provides me with life and breath. Not only does He give me life, because of Christ, I also have the gift of eternal life.
Gratitude is also a habit we try to instill in our family. I say try, because our hearts are prone to wander. As parents, we quickly forget what we’ve been given. My children do as well. But our goal is to be intentional in showing them how much they have been given, not just materially, but also in pointing out all the blessings they have because of the gospel of grace. We often put this into practice when there is a problem with whining or discontent. We all stop and take turns counting the ways God has blessed us.
Thanksgiving is an opportune time to begin developing the habit of gratitude. Last year, I put together a Thanksgiving tree for our family to use in the weeks leading up to the holiday. This is our second year using the tree and I think it’s becoming a tradition for us. I used a simple vase, tree branches, and cardstock. I placed a bowl filled with cut out leaves and a pen next to the tree. Whenever we think of something we are grateful for, we write it down on one of the leaves and hang it on the tree. By the time Thanksgiving day arrives, our tree is full of leaves.
What activities do you do with your children to help them develop the habit of gratitude? I would love to hear!
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I saw this on A Holy Experience yesterday too! We are starting ours today. What a fantastic idea. Thank you.
We’re starting ours today, too!
might have to step it up a notch next year!
of course, yours is prettier than mine
Love it! We’re going to do something similar, but it’s not going to be near as pretty!
We started ours last week but we don’t add it to the tree everyday,we add it accumulated every couple of days.I am forgetful and not as diligent. Bad i know…I need to start putting the leaves ,bowl and pen by the side.Great idea christina
The Thanksgiving tree is such a wonderful idea! Thank you for this encouraging post on reminding us how to be grateful for everything.
Blessings~
Shari
love this-and also your post on gospel coalition today-so very very timely and encouraging-thank you!
I have fond memories of our Thanksgiving tree! I still have the branches too. This year, I decided we’d memorize a Psalm as a surprise for my husband…but I miss seeing the tree “growing”. Yours is lovely!
I love the idea of a Thanksgiving tree. My children are older. We try to muster up conversation to share what we are thankful for. My kids also journal and hopefully their gratitude lists are growing!
Hi Christina, I just wanted to let you know I have nominated you for the Liebster Blog award. You will find it here: https://mydailywalkinhisgrace.blogspot.com/2012/11/liebster-blog-award-from-stacey.html.
Look forward to seeing you there
God bless
Tracy
You are so sweet! Thank you!