Gratitude is something I have been thinking a lot about lately. While feeling “stuck” at home, I also feel that gratitude will help me feel better and appreciate all the many blessings and comforts currently in my life. My family has been blessed as we have looked at the things we have and can do rather than the things we are missing or can’t do. Truly we benefit when we have an “attitude of gratitude”.
Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
Gratitude will help you and your family be happier. It helps you focus on the good in your life. You will surely feel greater love in your family, less fighting, and you’ll feel a wonderful and assuring spirit come over your family and home. Gratitude will help you be less selfish and show greater love to your family. You will see fear disappear and abundance appear. There are so many benefits to showing gratitude!
Have you ever felt like the mom who nobody appreciates? You cook and clean and take care of the kids and no one thanks you? I know I have had lots of days like that. What helps me get out of that rut is to be more appreciative. Once we start to show gratitude, it radiates through our family members too. Here are just a few ideas for you to show gratitude.
- Pay Tithing. Giving freely really helps you appreciate what you have in your life. We have seen numerous blessings in our family through paying tithing. It seems like you give 10% and the Lord gives you 110% back. And it’s not just monetary blessings that we receive…there is such a peace that comes into our home.
- Prayer. Express gratitude to your Father in Heaven for all of the blessings He has given you. Take time daily to acknowledge His hand in your life and especially thank Him for His son. Thank God for the rain and the rainbows in your life. Even disappointments teach us so many things and we can show gratitude to Him for them.
- Give a prayer that is only expressing gratitude and where you ask for nothing.
- Develop your talents. Any time you improve on what God has given you that shows gratitude to Him.
- Focus on the positives. Don’t dwell on past problems or disappointments. Look for the good in your life.
- Count your blessings. Write them down. Really ponder the blessings in your life; people, things, and circumstances. The more you ponder them, the more you will see.
- Observe. Pay attention to the people around you. How are they making your life better? Think of people that do kind things for you and find ways to show gratitude to each one.
- Start a journal and write all the times you see the Lord’s hand in your life each night.
- Be a gracious receiver. Here’s my post about that.
“I have yet to find a man, whatever his situation in life, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than he ever would do under a spirit of criticism”
Charles M. Schwab
As you start to improve in gratitude, you can help your family to do so as well. Your example is one of the best ways to teach gratitude! Here are some other ideas to help instill gratitude in your children.
- Thank you cards. Take the time to teach your kids to thank others for things given or done for them. Start when they are little and have them draw simple pictures for birthday gifts or they can even scribble and you write the note. (Homemade cards are the best!) Try to encourage them to send one for any gift or kind gestures from others.
- Talk about gratitude. Make the focus of daily conversations about thankfulness and gratitude. I like to point out specific blessings from Heavenly Father…like being healthy from the virus or sharing thankful stories from the news. We have been so blessed by neighbors and friends who have showed kindness to us.
- Help them appreciate the creations of Heavenly Father. Take walks and hikes with your family in nature. Go to parks or into the mountains. There is so much beauty to be seen; beautiful flowers, hillsides, lakes, sunsets, and stars. Talk about the majesties and beauties around you. Your kids will learn to appreciate them through these experiences.
- Teach manners. Start with the magic words: please and thank you. Reminders and your example are best for this. Sometimes I forget to thank my kids when they help me with something, but it really makes a difference when I do remember to ask nicely and thank them afterwards. Here is my post on manners.
- Give the kids chores. Work is an important part of learning and appreciating things around you. Once my kids started making dinner, they didn’t complain nearly as much and realized all the work that it takes to make it. Plus it helps them be responsible.
- Volunteer or do service together. Nothing helps our more to appreciate our life than getting out and helping others. Seeing others struggle makes our challenges seem so much more bearable. Plus it instills generosity and goodwill. Here is my post on service.
- Don’t give them everything they want. Spoiled kids are not very grateful. Letting them earn money and use their own money to buy things has really reduced the “Can I have this?” syndrome in our family. Seriously! Once I started saying “Would you spend your own money on it?”, they didn’t want to buy it. It is okay to say NO!
- Help them save up for things. Help them set goals to earn money for things. They definitely seem to appreciate it all the more.
- Model gratitude. You are the ultimate example in your home. Show your kids what gratitude is and what it looks like and sounds like. Be a good role model for them. Your kids will mimic you.
- Spend time together and be mindful of gratitude. Family time is one of my favorite times and helps us appreciate each other more.
- Start a gratitude journal with each child.
- Share gratitude at the dinner table. Have a daily conversation of something each person is grateful for. These Gratitude Journal Prompts would make a great discussion at dinner.
- Express more gratitude for each other in family prayer. I still love it when I hear a family member pray about me. One time our family decided to come up with someone or something different each night to thank Heavenly Father. It really helped us to think about our blessings and the things that we really appreciated.
- Do a fun gratitude activity. Like these sunflower paper plate craft, gratitude drawing prompts, and M&M thankful game.
Start small. Pick some things to work on. Maybe it is just to say thank you 10 times today. For me, it is hardest to notice what people are doing around me. Open your eyes to others and the blessings you have around you. It will make a difference in your home!
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