Grateful for Gratitude
Gratitude is something I have to cultivate. Naturally, it’s easier for me to focus on the wants. To compare my life to those I think have it “better.” Better house, better stuff, better circumstances. But the truth is, there’s so much to be thankful for!
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, my thoughts have turned to dwell on thankfulness. So often I can rush past Thanksgiving to focus on Christmas. Even as I shop for turkey and pumpkin, the stores have decked their windows with Christmas trees and faked wrapped packages. But I want to stop and focus on giving thanks. To ponder good gifts. To create visual reminders of thanksgiving.
A lot of you fellow bloggers seem to be doing the same. Here’s a few great ways to dwell on thankfulness, that I’ve discovered in various places on blogosphere:
I love the Tree of Thanks over at Domestic Life. A great and simple way to make gratitude a family project.
If you’re more inspired, check out the Thankful Cork Board at Mt. Hope Chronicles. Wow!
Or, you could start your own One Thousand Gifts list and join the Gratitude Community over at Holy Experience. Every Monday Ann continues her list of thankfulness.
If you want to delve into gratitude on a deeper level, check out Nancy Leigh DeMoss’ new book, Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy.
If you want to remember the story behind Thanksgiving, Barbara Rainey’s book Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember is a beautiful resource.
But no matter the method, I hope you choose to cultivate gratitude with me.
we started the barbara rainey book tradition last year, and love it. it is incorporated into our lessons at school as well, in history and geography, and each week we read one chapter, ending the week of thanksgiving. then, after we read the chapter, the girls think of events in the story they feel are important, and they create text and illustrations for our own mini book if you will. they’re going to read it to everyone at thanksgiving
i too notice we americans like to skip the thanks, and get right to the presents
drives me nuts- not like i’m not thrilled about christmas, but i don’t want to skip over thanksgiving!
Megan
Your post reminded that I have that B. Rainey book…just pulled it out. Listening to the CD now.
I just have to say – I LOVE the photo on this post…
thank YOU for those resources Danielle. I must admit, I love awaiting your new posts and I love getting to know other young women through it. I am thankful for you and your blog!
Aw, thanks Samantha, you’re sweet!
Oh these are all great love that corkboard one….someday. Reading that book. Didn’t get to our Give and Thanks tree this year….or any other fall projects. Still quite in survival mode. But I am thankful for a newborn and three other healthy kids that keep me so busy I don’t have time for much else….I know there will be in the future so I am letting it go and just trying to enjoy each other and our current stage in life.
Love seeing fall on everyones blogs though. Puts me in a happy mood