Throughout my life I have struggled with depression, anxiety, anger, and fear. I have felt helpless and given up on hope. But I have never stopped crying out to Jesus to save me. And my life goes so much smoother when I thank God. Oppression is lifted off of me every time I remember what God has done for me. I serve so much better when I feel better.
I want to teach my kids to have a thankful heart. It’s gratitude that keeps our eyes off of ourselves and unto the Creator of the universe.
We can all take life for granted from time to time. Sometimes we think that God owes us. When we don’t get things our way we act out in bitterness. Our sin nature is full of selfishness and greediness. Its human nature to want to look out for ourselves and the heck with the rest of the world. But a heart full of gratitude desires to bless others because they have been richly blessed.
Daily I ask my kids what they are thankful for. I write it down on a strip of paper and put it into our family jar to be read a couple of times a year. My kids faces light up when they share and joy truly feels the air.
I’ve learned that thankfulness keeps us standing when the world is falling apart. I want my children to be strong with hearts filled with gratitude.
With a grateful heart one can overcome anything. I have!
I want to encourage you to do the same. Ask your kids daily what they are thankful for. This is one of the best things we can do for our kids to prepare them for a world that takes without freely giving. God unconditionally gives to us and we are forever loved. This truth alone is worth getting up every morning for and having a cup of coffee.
Please share some creative ways you and your family give thanks. How has given thanks helped you or others you know?
Mom Inspired Adventures 
Hi my Lisa. Thank you for another meaningful lesson. Just a few years ago, a girlfriend told me that she says her gratitudes every night before she falls asleep. Sort of a new version of the old counting your sheep method. I thought to myself, that is something I should try. When I’m feeling down, I go out on my back deck and say my gratitudes. Such a simple, beautiful way to change the mood in my heart and brain. When I’m angry with my Dennis, it has always been easy for me to think mean thoughts as I stomp off and leave the room. Of course, that only generates MORE mean and ugly thoughts. Well, it has only taken 41 years of marriage and the loss of our Daddy, to flip some sort of switch in my brain. For the first time, I truly realized that someone we love so dearly can be gone so quickly. These days, when I’m angry at my sweetheart, I have been learning to replace those mean thoughts with thoughts of gratitude. My long list of all the wonderful things that my husband is. Changing one’s heart and mind takes a lot of hard work! I love reading your blog, because it lets me see your struggles and your strengths. It lets me see that my baby sister has truly grown into a beautiful woman… Much love, Heidi
Sent from my mountain at Feathers In The Wind Ranch! ~Chirp…Chirp….Woof…Woof!~
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Hi Big Sister!!!! Heidi thanks for posting such a sweetheart testimony of how gratitude can keep a marriage strong. I have seen many marriages over the years struggle because of selfish bickering. Nobody wants to live with a complainer that constantly cuts their partner down. And I have seen over the years how my big sister creates beauty out of simplicity. You have a way of finding things to decorate your house with and turning other people’s junk into priceless treasures. Your house demonstrates in a very creative way that you have a heart full of gratitude. Your kindness and love fills the air. And that is why you have a husband who is willing to travel so many hours a day from work to home and back every day of the week. He knows you appreciate him. And I can see that you appreciate your husband by the way you are with him when we hang out. And your unfailing love and patience with our parents over the years, shows how your kind heart thinks deeply. You shine with gratitude. Love ya Sis!!!
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