How gratitude became a way of life

New age writers and spiritual thinkers like Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra and even Lao Tzu have touted the benefits of gratitude for centuries...

For many of these writers, the key to living a bountiful life is to actually appreciate and acknowledge what you do have — to acknowledge what IS, instead of what IS NOT.

Whether it is through prayer or journalling, sharing your gratitude can only be a good thing. Learning to appreciate the lessons in financial hardship, a child’s tantrum, a lost relationship, or a challenge at work is all a part of being grateful.

I began a practice some time ago which has now become a habit for my family. It is a gratitude prayer. Regardless of your religious affiliation or lack thereof, this habit can leave a huge impression on your children and will truly affect your lives in positive ways.

Each night when my children go to sleep we take five minutes after story time to share with each other what we are grateful for.

My son always begins with ‘I am grateful for Mommy and Daddy, then follows with the trees, the sun, the moon, the earth, my friends, Pokemon cards, TV’ and so on...

My daughter leads with ‘Mommy, Daddy, Coco, Max, My Little Pony, the trees, the air and even bad things...’

Sometimes they are even grateful for each other but a disclaimer usually follows.

When it’s my turn, and they always make sure I have a turn, I say ‘I am grateful for my wonderful, sweet children, our friends and family who love and care for us, our home, my job, the sun and the earth.’ Each night it varies somewhat but for all of us, the theme is the same. Appreciating everything in our lives and not taking anything for granted.

Gratitude teaches our children to appreciate the small things in life. It doesn’t take hitting rock bottom or a major crisis to realize that our lives are a gift.

True gratitude requires us to see that everything, every up and down, every challenge, every misstep, has a purpose in your life. Our job is to see them all as lessons, as gifts, and to be grateful for them.

It is something that our children, and our children’s children, can all benefit from learning.

Sometimes in our hurried, opportunistic world we forget to look around and take a moment to appreciate the goodness around us; to not take for granted all of the blessings in our life.

Last night while writing in my own gratitude journal, my son snatched it away from me. He said, “Don’t look, it’s a surprise.” Then he handed it back.

In his little handwriting he had written: ‘You better read this: I love you, Mommy.’ Now how sweet is that? Thank you.

Here is a gratitude prayer you can share with your kids to help you get started. You can modify it however you like or customize it to your beliefs.

Thank you for the gift of life,
For letting me be me...
For all that I can know by words,
And all that I can see...
For all the music I can hear,
And all the songs I sing,
For all the joy that comes to me,
And all the joy I bring...
For all the food that I can taste,
And all the sweet scents I smell...
For all the loves ones I can touch,
Who love and wish me well.
God thank you for all of my blessings and may I be a blessing to others.

It nearly brings me to tears imagining a child reciting that each night.

I’ll leave you with these websites I have found most useful on our journey toward gratitude. May your family be able to incorporate these ideas into a tradition.

www.juniorattractors.com
www.raisingsmallsouls.com