“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18NLT.
As mamas, it can be very easy to lose our joy if we aren’t intentional about looking for it in our everyday lives.
This week’s practical idea is giving a shout out to Anne Voskamp’s book 1,000 Gifts. I read this book several years ago. It talks about the power that a “Gratitude Journal” can have on your perspective and your life. This book helped me to be grateful for all of the small blessings in my life and even the hard situations that inevitably would come my way.
I learned that the best way for me to keep hold of my joy was to look for ways to be grateful in the ordinary, mundane, crazy, overwhelming, rushed, and stressful seasons of everyday life.
Now, each morning before I start my quiet time, I reflect on the day before and try to think of at least 5 things to be grateful for. Sometimes it’s hard, and I have to really dig deep to see the blessings around me. But it helps me to get my focus on the good in my life, and not how I don’t want to get up, or I didn’t sleep well, or the kids are fighting… again, but the blessings.
Try having a gratitude journal for a season. You don’t have to do it like I do but find a way to be intentional about writing down the blessings God has placed in your life. Then, when you are having a rough day, you can read your gratitude journal and reflect back on the many blessings God has given you.
Blessings and love,
Brandi
Hey mamas, My name is Brandi Carson, and I am a homeschooling mama to 5 littles, first generation Christian, lover of food, friends, and dark chocolate, frugal thrift shopper who loves to find a good deal or a new project to work on and create. I am a mama that became a Christian after I started having babies.
My husband and I got married very young and started a family right away. Life has been a series of many trials that we have had to work through, like having a daughter with severe ADHD, moving to 4 different states in 2 years, health problems and just life in general. Through the years the Lord has shown me so much grace and love and has taught me so much about how to be humble, show love and grace.
Each day I strive to be the best mama and wife I can be and fulfill the calling the Lord has placed in my life. I have a passion to help other mamas in any way I can. I am still a work in progress and make mistakes like everyone else and am nowhere near perfect but I am learning to pick myself up, forgive myself and keep seeking the Lord in all I do.
We are finally settled in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado for the past few years where the Lord has allowed us to build a house and grow roots. He brought me the Help Club for Moms and the amazing community I get to be a part of.
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One Comment on “Intentional Gratitude”
This is so good Brandi! Beginning your day with a grateful heart totally changes the mood of your home!