Tag Archives: blessings

Bring Back the Jar

Posted on by

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, so I’m bringing back my Blessing Jar. I’ve been very stressed lately, so it is time to shift my focus back to my many blessings. I will post an earlier blog in case you’d like to join me and don’t remember what I’m talking about.

Several years ago, I was privileged to join Heart to Heart on a trip to Guatemala. We were installing water purification units and distributing deworming pills for the kids. The people were so grateful for clean water—something we take for granted in the United States. The homes we visited were small enough to fit into my bedroom, with thin corrugated steel walls and leaky roofs. Most of the kids only had one extra pair of clothes. No iPhones. No computers. And yet, they were happy. They were grateful for what they had. (Check out the book I wrote for Heart to Heart about their water purification project.)

I hope that one day my kids can go with us to serve in a third world country. I want them to experience what it’s like to live without so much excess. This could be a life-changing adventure for your family as well. I don’t know about you, but my family will need to save money for a while to get us there. In the meantime, here is a thought you can discuss with your teenagers: What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?

A project for all ages, is to write down your blessings. You can do this in a journal (like my family did after reading One Thousand Gifts), or you can write them on strips of paper and put them in a jar or box. November is a natural month to do this, due to Thanksgiving, but it could also be a year-long project. Your family could read all of the blessings on New Year’s Eve.

A visual way to teach the concept to younger children could be through the book The Blessing Jar by Colleen Coble. The story is about a little girl who is having a bad morning. Her grandma takes her on an adventure where they collect small objects related to happy memories. They place these objects in a blessing jar to remind them to be thankful, chasing away the grumpy attitude. After reading the book, you could begin your own blessing jar. This activity would be extra special if you had grandparents available to join in the fun.

Lessons Learned in the Autism Room: Appreciate the Little Things

Posted on by

Sometimes it’s encouraging to be looked at with obvious admiration. I have to admit, it has been a while since my appearance literally made someone’s jaw drop. All it took was for me to alter my appearance entirely—by dressing up as Pete the Cat.

Every adult in the Autism Room decided to work together and wear homemade Pete the Cat costumes for Halloween.  We’ve read the books many times to our autistic friends and have found the cool cat is well-loved.

I walked through our door clad in dark blue and yellow, adjusting my hat adorned with huge eyes and ears. A few kids looked at me in confusion but returned to their table toys. One friend however gasped deep and long, dropping his blueberry muffin on the floor. His fists tightened and rose in the air as his smile grew. He approached me slowly, soaking it all in. My smile matched his as he fingered my oversized turqouise, blue, green, and red buttons. He squatted down to look at my Converse high-tops and peaked behind me in search of a tail. His eyes sparkled when he found the blue stuffed sock safety-pinned to my shirt.

You would think that his amazement would fade as each teacher walked into the room dressed in a similar costume. But no—his wonder only grew. He was in Pete the Cat heaven. Every bit of extra effort was worth it after witnessing his excitement.

How many times have I been like the rest of the class and barely paid attention to the surprises and blessings of life? I want to gasp in wonder at God’s creation and truly soak in the beautiful handiwork surrounding me. Here’s to enjoying the colors in sunsets and the fragrance of flowers. Here’s to listening to the cardinal’s song and feeling the blades of grass tickle my feet. Here’s to noticing the acts of kindness from people passing by.

Thank you, my sweet friend, for being awestruck by my simple costume, and reminding me to truly appreciate the good around me.

7 Ways to Develop a Positive Attitude

Posted on by

positive attitude image

Forget the glass being half full analogy. Odds are, it’s just water in that glass, and while that’s vital to life, I crave a different image. Let’s imagine a Nutella jar. Ahh. Much better. If you unscrew that white lid and reveal a gold foil wrapper still intact it means the jar is completely full. No one has dipped a single spoonful of chocolate-hazelnut goodness from the jar.  Most of the time, I open the lid to discover someone has binged on the sweet treat, and the jar is half empty. I have to really work to see the jar as half full.

Sometimes having a positive outlook requires effort. There are a few people out there who are naturally positive people. My husband is one, bless him. It does not come naturally to me. It’s worth the effort however, as my kids are watching and learning by example. I need to model a positive outlook on life if I want to combat the negative viewpoint that oozes from so many songs and books today.

That’s easy to say…or write. But how can we develop a positive attitude? Here are 7 ways to get us on our way.

  1. Stop the stinking thinking. You have control over your thoughts. Catch them before they get off track and send you into a spiral.
  2. Replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. Count your blessings. What are you thankful for?
  3. Accept that life isn’t fair and move on. God will help you through it.
  4. Get exercise. Release those endorphins. A workout or a walk outside can do wonders.
  5. Find a way to help others. It gets your mind off yourself.
  6. Stop whining and complaining. It brings others down.
  7. Pump in the good. Listen to positive music. Read a positive book. Talk to a positive person. Pray.

I can do this! And so can you. How’s that for being positive? Now, for a reward. I’m going to find some strawberries…and smother them in Nutella.