When things don't go exactly as planned do you find yourself getting frustrated, irritated, or just down right depressed? I know I do at times. Letting go and just being thankful is a process I am learning and striving for each day....and it's not always easy. Some days, I'm not really sure how to "let things go." I get myself worked up and before I know it I am tense, stressed and feel like my stomach is in knots. What I do know is that I can change my outlook if I could just stop and say "Thank you, I am grateful for today." Yes, my "plan" I had in my head for the day may be different, but I am present and I am thankful.
Yesterday my youngest daughter's preschool class had their Thanksgiving Day party. Besides the adorable Pilgrim and Indian hats; the Gobble, Gobble, Turkey songs and the smiling faces there was a sincere sense of thankfulness in the room. Each child had a turkey place card that they colored and listed what they were grateful for. I had such a good time reading what my daughter and her friends listed. You could tell the teachers really took their time asking the children to think about what it means to be thankful.
When I came home it made me think about what I am thankful for in this season of my life. It made me think about the obvious things like my family, my friends, health...but not only the obvious things are important. Being thankful for little things is just as relevant: like the ten minutes I have each morning with my cup of coffee and my daily devotion before I wake the girls for school; the cardinal that comes to my bird feeder daily and for me is a sign of my loved ones (it's hard to explain but when I am having a difficult day that bird is always out there...there is no other explanation to me other than for that bird to remind me my loved ones are never far away); hearing my daughters' laughter and giggles at nighttime when they are supposed to be falling asleep; the smile my husband gets on his face when he is trying not to laugh (usually at me)....
These are just a few of the little things that I no longer take for granted. These are things that make my heart smile and things I will never forget.
What makes your heart smile?
Gratitude is the memory of the heart
~ Jean Baptiste Massieu
Yesterday my youngest daughter's preschool class had their Thanksgiving Day party. Besides the adorable Pilgrim and Indian hats; the Gobble, Gobble, Turkey songs and the smiling faces there was a sincere sense of thankfulness in the room. Each child had a turkey place card that they colored and listed what they were grateful for. I had such a good time reading what my daughter and her friends listed. You could tell the teachers really took their time asking the children to think about what it means to be thankful.
When I came home it made me think about what I am thankful for in this season of my life. It made me think about the obvious things like my family, my friends, health...but not only the obvious things are important. Being thankful for little things is just as relevant: like the ten minutes I have each morning with my cup of coffee and my daily devotion before I wake the girls for school; the cardinal that comes to my bird feeder daily and for me is a sign of my loved ones (it's hard to explain but when I am having a difficult day that bird is always out there...there is no other explanation to me other than for that bird to remind me my loved ones are never far away); hearing my daughters' laughter and giggles at nighttime when they are supposed to be falling asleep; the smile my husband gets on his face when he is trying not to laugh (usually at me)....
These are just a few of the little things that I no longer take for granted. These are things that make my heart smile and things I will never forget.
What makes your heart smile?
Gratitude is the memory of the heart
~ Jean Baptiste Massieu
