40 Days to Growing in Gratitude as a Family

Join us for an 8 week email series, 40 Days to Growing in Gratitude as a Family this season.

We’ve been a little off this week in our house. Everyone is high strung and on edge and nothing seems to be good enough. Ever have weeks like that in your house?

When my son was complaining yesterday about a tiny, little thing that wasn’t going his way, I wanted to lose it. I wanted to grab his shoulders square, look him in the eye and shout as loud as I could,

DO YOU KNOW HOW BLESSED YOU ARE?!

But I knew that wouldn’t help. I know I can’t yell gratitude into my kids. And I also can’t buy it for them or fix and manipulate it for them.

I have to remember that these little attitudes that creep up (more often than I’d like, if I’m honest) are normal kid stuff. It’s part of their human nature and the natural angst they feel as they try to navigate the world around them with it’s constant message of more, more, more!

When my expectations are in line, their humanity doesn’t surprise me and instead, I figure out ways to guide them through it so they can grow into thankful, positive adults who recognize their blessings, no matter what.

I don’t pretend to have this all figured out. I’m simply committed to turning their hearts toward gratitude in every moment (especially the yucky ones like we’ve had this week) so that they grow a habit of finding and focusing on the good.

I suspect I’m on to something because as soon as I announced this gratitude series here at Gather & Grow, the attitudes in our house (mine included, ahem) got sour. The enemy loves to mess with us like that, doesn’t he?!

But we can fight back. . .with intentional words and actions that grow gratitude in our home and family life.

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This morning as I was thinking about this post and feeling a little guilty that the attitudes in our house weren’t matching the heart with which I hoped to present this initiative, I opened an email from my friends at Connected Families to find an article on breaking the cycle of crabbiness and negativity in your home. I love how the Lord uses people we trust to meet us in our mess with just what we need to grow forward.

Their post reminded me of the powerful Discipline that Connects truths that lead to peace when you intentionally respond to break through those moments when everyone seems to be on edge. It was total confirmation that we’re on the right track to growing in gratitude this season despite the messiness I’m feeling. After all, everything grows through the dirt, right?

So I don’t invite you along on this journey as someone who’s already got it together. I invite you and your family to join mine as we plant seeds in the messy soil of our hearts and cultivate them together in order to grow in gratitude this Thanksgiving season.

40 Days to Growing in Gratitude as a Family

For the next 8 weeks, beginning Sunday, October 1 through Thanksgiving, I’ll be sharing a weekly email with daily prompts to help your family grow in gratitude as you dig deep to intentionally thank God for things like. . .

• nature and it’s beauty
• our intricate bodies
• our homes
• the clothing we wear
• our community
• our family culture
• our friends and neighbors
• our gifts and abilities

I believe the more specific we get in giving thanks, the more we’ll cultivate a culture of gratitude in our families. I know I need this intentional practice. Maybe you do, too!

Sign up HERE to join our 40 Days to Growing in Gratitude as a Family email series. When you do, you’ll get this sweet printable to hang in your home as a reminder this season that,

GRATITUDE TURNS WHAT WE HAVE INTO ENOUGH.

Even though the days may seem full of ungrateful attitudes and the constant desire for more, as parents, we need to look long term at the adults we want our children to become. This garden work is tough. It requires constant planting and replanting, watering and pruning. It’s hard and dirty work but the results, in God’s timing, will be beautiful.

I look forward to growing with you and your family this Thanksgiving season.

SIGN UP FOR OUR 40 DAYS  TO GROWING IN GRATITUDE EMAIL SERIES HERE!

I highly recommend the Discipline that Connects book and eCourse if you would like to dig deeper into their teaching on how to promote peace and connection at home. Registration for the course opens October 2 and closes October 27. Find out more HERE.