This month, in the spirit of the season, we want to encourage you to focus on the idea of Gratitude and being Grateful.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
We are so grateful for the support we’ve received and for each of you who has signed up and taken the lead to serve your community with your gifts. And we’re equally grateful to have the opportunity to build this platform and guide disciples to realize their God-given calling.
What does it mean to be grateful? According to the Dictionary, it means “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”. This concept is pretty straightforward, but it can be very difficult to remember all we have to be grateful for on a regular basis due to comparison to others in today’s society with social media, and constantly being reminded about what is missing in our lives.
This month, in honor of Thanksgiving, we want to encourage our Realize Your Calling members to take a step back and analyze how much you really do have to be thankful for.
Here are five simple actions you can take to focus on gratitude this month
- At some point during the month, take about 30 minutes to sit down and write 5 things you are grateful for in your life right now, and share those 5 things with a loved one. Ask them to do the same. I bet it will be much easier than you think to find 5 things…
- Encourage dialogue about gratitude at dinner with your loved ones and ask everyone to name one thing they are grateful for. This can be anything! Spark the conversation and continue it moving forward.
- Say “thank you” at least 3 times every day. This is a simple way to express gratitude, but it can be so impactful. Knowing you are appreciated goes a long way.
- Tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them and value them. This seems simple, but it’s not very common that we go out of our way to express our appreciation for those closest to us. Take the time to show them how much they mean to you this month.
- Start a gratitude habit by writing down something you’re grateful for each morning as you start your day. This can be a simple daily journal entry that you keep and continue using in the coming months and years.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16