Cultivating Gratefulness
Every Friday, The Gypsy Mama hosts 5 Minute Friday where bloggers write for 5 minutes straight about a subject and then post it without making any changes or edits. All who participate, link it back to her site to share encouragement and celebrate the art of communicating.
Today’s theme is appropriately, “grateful.”
GO
This year I want to cultivate gratefulness in my life. I want to ignore all the “weeds” that threaten to choke out joy. Particularly, noticing the little treasures coming my way.
Every little pleasure needs to be acknowledged.
As I do so, thankfulness toward what the Lord provides will come easier.
And with thankfulness for what He has given, will come praise for Who He is.
When I cultivate gratefulness, my focus will not be on getting more or having smooth sailing but on how incredible our Creator is, how gracious, compassionate, and loving.
Circumstances don’t change that!
STOP
Well, once again I completed this challenge, but this time it was actually more difficult than the last. I thought it through more, unwilling to let the words just come, but instead caressing them into what I thought I should say.
This exercise is definitely an important tool of growth for me. I pray you will cheer me on as I continue to join 5 Minute Friday in the weeks to come.
“I will give You thanks with all my heart;
I will sing Your praise before the heavenly beings” (Psalm 138:1).
As we approach the last month of the year, what are your thoughts on being grateful? Are there tools you’ve identified to help you grow in 2012?
By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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So true – gratitude is not one of those things that just happens. And yet, when we cultivate that mindset, we see so much beauty from God that we would miss otherwise. Thanks for sharing this, and I love the garden picture!
Yes, Amy, and it does get easier to be grateful the more we purpose to be so. As the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect”–or at least closer to perfect. Blessings and peace to you!