Happy New Year! 2014 was an incredible year for our family. We watched Harper grow into a walking, talking, sweet (and sometimes many times mischievous) toddler. I can truly say it was the best year of our life together so far.
I don’t really make resolutions anymore, but what I’m trying to focus on this year is gratitude. A couple of years ago, it was such a huge focus in my life (I talked about it here). I spent time everyday acknowledging what I was thankful for and when I prayed—I rarely asked for something. Instead, I thanked God for all that we had and all that was to come. There was a special kind of peace that came along with expressing this gratitude. It’s hard to explain, but I truly felt that the more gratitude I expressed, the more blessings came into our lives. There was a sense of clam in knowing that God would guide us on the best path.
I think we tend to constantly focus on what we need to improve, where we see ourselves in five years, and long term plans. These are important things, of course, but it’s just as important to reflect upon what’s going right in the present.
Expressing gratitude and making it a focus isn’t always easy. There is so much going on in our lives— stress, family, work and life commitments, illness (yourself or a loved one), hardships, ups and downs… and our to-do lists are seemingly never-ending. It feels more natural to ask God for what we want or need because these are the thoughts rolling around in our minds all day. And it makes sense, because God wants us to have that dialogue with Him. He wants us to seek guidance, support and compassion in His love.
I got off track with prayer for the past year and a half. I was so consistent with prayer and gratitude before Harper was born, that it was simply a part of my daily routine. Then, the sleeplessness, going back to work and late bedtimes caught up to me and I woke up one day and couldn’t remember the last time I had prayed. I do read daily devotionals via email, but that wasn’t the same as connecting with God and having a “conversation.” And, when I did remember to pray, I often focused on problems, stresses and obstacles.
I forgot to take a moment to be thankful for all of the things that were right- our daughter is healthy, we are healthy, we have jobs we enjoy, we have health insurance, a nice home, close relationships with our families. All of those amazing things were sidelined in my conversations with the Lord because I stopped focusing on gratitude.
[what I’m most thankful for- family]
So 2015 will be a year to return to a state of mind where gratitude is first and foremost. Where it once again becomes ingrained in me to acknowledge everyday blessings.
If you’re struggling with expressing gratitude everyday, here are a few things that help me:
- Pray: Start off each prayer with specific things you are thankful for— they can be “big things” like the health of your family or your home or “small things” like doing really well in a presentation at work or being able to have a few hours to yourself to get a manicure.
- Reflect: jot down things you’re thankful for on a notepad or in the notes section of your phone. When you’re having a bad day (or week, or month, or more), read over your list as a reminder that a new season is coming.
- Reach-out: if you have a friend you’ve lost touch with, contact them. If you have a co-worker who did a great job on a project, tell them. If you got outstanding service at a store, tell the employee and manager or write an email. These are the little things that make a big difference. They help spread positivity and give us even more to be thankful for— especially when we make others feel appreciated.
- Look-back: something that always brings me joy is looking at photos and videos from the past year. It allows me to re-live special moments and milestones and this always makes me feel so thankful that I’m able to have these memories. Another way to do this is by having a conversation with an old friend about some special memories or reading letters and cards you’ve saved from the past. It helps to put into perspective, again, that life is full of seasons and that if times are difficult right now, a better season is around the corner.
And while we’re on the topic of gratitude, I want to thank all of you, my readers for supporting this blog. It means so much to me that I can connect with you all. I’m lucky in that I truly feel I’ve gotten to know many of you as friends- through emails, conversations on this blog an on Instagram. Thank you for reminding me that I have so much to be grateful for, even here in this small little space on the Internet.
We pray at dinner each night with my two kids. My 19 month is always the first to reach out and grab hands so we can pray. That small gesture alone lets me know that with all the things I may do wrong, at least I am doing one thing right.
That is really the sweetest idea. I honestly hadn't thought about introducing prayer just yet, but I think you are right and we shoud start now. Thanks for the idea!
What a great reminder to be thankful! Such a positive note to start off the year. I completely feel you about having kids and life getting busier and using those few moments we do choose to spend in prayer asking for things and sharing our struggles. It's just as important to relish the things we've been given and enjoy each of our blessings – however small! Thanks for a great post!
Thanks so much for your comment Amber 🙂 It can be so hard to stop and take that moment. I pray right after we turn off the lights before we go to sleep. When Harper was a baby I would often zonk out as soon as the lights went out. It can be easy to get off track but I am committed this year!
I enjoyed this post. Thank you. Nightly, I take a moment do let down my guard when I speak to God. I take a deeeep wholesome breath and relax. I enter prayer without any stress. I am thankful for and ask for: holiness (God before self and all else), health (self and loved ones), happiness within (self) and harmony throughout (my relationships while on earth). I am thankful for all that I have and all that I do not have – for that makes me strong and gives me hope. I pray for those I love – and those that they love… and in peace I fall to sleep. During trying times, I tell God that I will sleep in prayer. I begin my prayer, fall asleep and say Amen in the morning. It gives me that feeling I used to get when my mother would sleep by my side – I felt protected – body heart and soul. It is the best alive feeling ever!
This is such an amazing comment thank you! I really love the "falling asleep in prayer" concept. I've actually done that in accident before. I have to remind myself all the time that it doesn't matter where and when you pray it just matters that you do it. Thank you again!
Thanks for sharing this! I feel like prayer changes everything when you Are consistent with it! Ps we also pray nightly with our toddler and she helps say them now. It's a great bonding experience as a family to thank god together.
Tu as raison on doit prendre le temps de remercier dieu de tout ce qu'on a : santé, enfants, famille et la liste est infini,
Bonne continuation ma cher amie virtuelle 😉
Keeep in touch
Ps : i wrote in French coz I know that you have some knowing and I want to let you practice your French 😉
There is a book called "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. I think you would like it. My friend created a gift list and tried to make it to 1,000 before she passed to cancer. She didn't quite make it. Now we all keep a gift list to remind us that life is about the gifts that are given to us each and everyday. 🙂
We also let Kennedy pray at dinner time! Honestly, she learned how to pray at school (she goes to a Catholic MDO) so we cross ourselves with her (even though we're not Catholic, lol) and she says the prayer. It doesn't happen every night but I really want it to. Great post. Gratitude is a great word to go with for this year! Mine is balance.
We also have Georgia pray at mealtimes. I have a little girls daily devotional book I got for the two of us to read together, I need to make more of a conscious effort on it in 2015.
Great post Veronika! More time with God is on my list for 2015, too.
This is beautiful Veronika and we all need to be reminded of Gratitude instead of things we always seem to want and need. 2015 I want to make more time for God
We do all mealtimes and bed times (naps too) with prayer with our 2 year old. If we forget to pray with her any time she gets into bed, she is quick to remind us to pray! If you haven't seen it already, there is a great kids Bible app by YouVersion that our daughter loves.
Thanks for this post. I relate to a lot of it. With an 18 month old physically and mentally circling me, I feel like my mind is so preoccupied with what I need to do to just get thru each day! Making that special time for a daily small prayer is so vital to my life. Thanks for the reminder and helpful tips!