What keeps us practicing a habit?
What motivates us?
How do we establish a routine, a task, a habit and stick with it?
Gratitude.
A habit I have practiced for more than 10 years.
Naming.
Intentionally.
Giving praise.
Even in the hard.
Even through the ache.
Recording.
Seeking and searching.
Yet somehow, this year, I have found myself more unsettled and frustrated. . .
Until I realized I have forsaken a habit.
I have neglected the intentional practice of naming my praises and Thankfulness.
It may sound trite or insignificant.
Yet, there is great wisdom in this practice.
N.T. Wright illustrates, ‘If Paul is telling them about thanksgiving,
he is also telling them about thanks-living—about how to live on the basis of being grateful people’.
Thanks-living changes the way we see people.
God desires our very selves to yield to Him.
In our obedience we love.
We see people as He sees them.
Our words become seasoned with kindness.
Our actions become extensions of our expression of gratitude.
As November marches on, will you join us in practicing gratitude?
Begin to name that for which you are thankful.
Find a notebook or journal and begin a list.
Use sticky notes to create a thankful wall.
We have a tree that we hang paper leaves from to name our thanks.
Watch and see how your heart changes.
30 Days of Thankfulness
I am thankful for:
help from the family to clean and organize this big farmhouse
baking and creating in the kitchen
a full farmhouse table
laughter that echoes in this space when all the kids are home
friends who are crazy and make me laugh
friends who sacrifice and love on foster children
my farmer who continues to feel good and healthy
this season to slow down and be intentional about gratitude
my children who are so different from each other
probably the busiest summer we have ever had
the struggle that teaches me to lean on Jesus with all I have
Will you join us in this journey this month and beyond?
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Or quietly begin this deep practice of gratitude to God for all things.
