I can’t remember exactly when I started this written practice of prayer and gratitude. I may have been ten, maybe even younger. What I do remember is laying in my bed in a room I shared with my brother and sister when we still lived in the Philippines, pen in hand and writing to God. I don’t remember the details of what I wrote, however I’m sure they were focused on my family and friends. These letters were stored in a clothes drawer where they collected day by day and year by year. Unfortunately, they were all left behind when we moved to the U.S.
Prayer and Gratitude Journal
Our move to the United States was a huge adjustment. I continued to write but not as consistent. This was a practice that have come and gone and come back time and time again. This year particularly I have made a tremendous effort to have this written practice an everyday affair. To make it a part of my morning routine. Instead of individual letters written on loose-leaf paper, I now have a journal to write in each day.
Let me share with you a few lines I wrote from June 2019:
Heavenly Father, thank you for a beautiful morning and for what the day will bring. I am grateful for the good things that happened yesterday with the final day of Vacation Bible School and the girls enjoying their time there the entire week…
Gratitude and Well-Being
Personally, I have experienced the positive effects of everyday gratitude. Which is why I’m a big proponent as it has directly impacted my well-being and research has shown the same effects to many people. I know when I wasn’t grateful, my train of thought spiraled down to negativity. I noticed the smallest of flaws occurring in my life. This eventually caught up with me two decades ago when I was at my lowest point. Yet I was brought out of this darkness and into the light by a force I believe to be greater than my own. And I slowly found my way back to gratitude and prayers for all of the blessings in my life.
As Thanksgiving and the month of November comes to an end, usually recognized as the month for gratitude, I’d like to encourage you to continue to be grateful. Perhaps, even consider a written practice to do everyday. See for yourself how this can transform your well-being.
What are your thoughts on gratitude? If you have a gratitude practice, how has it affected you?
I like to think I’m a grateful person. I love to help others and I try to be appreciative for all the blessings that are heaped upon us by others. I don’t consider it a practice, just the way I am.
Wonderful trait to have Jenn!
Yes! Yes! Yes! Gratitude is EVERYTHING! I strongly believe choosing to embrace gratitude during my 3-month recovery from surgery is what carried me through to a successful rally-back.
I love that you found gratitude to be a source of strength during your recovery.
I love the idea of practicing everyday gratitude. We often forget how many things we have to be thankful for each day.
Agree – we sometimes get too caught up in the busyness of our days that we tend to forget to stop and be grateful for what we have.
I generally am a grateful person. I’m not great at keeping any kind of journal but I do take time to appreciate the big and little blessings of my day.
Yes even with pausing to appreciate small and big blessings help 🙂