Finding Blessings in Everyday Moments
There’s something about the arrival of November that fills me with a wonderful sense of anticipation. Maybe it’s knowing that the holiday season is just around the corner, the thought of gathering with family and friends, or the traditions and memories that make this time of year so special.
Whatever it is, I’ve always loved this season. There’s a certain warmth and excitement in the air, and with Thanksgiving approaching, it seems like the perfect time to reflect on the many things we have to be greatful for.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how our perspective on gratitude changes as we get older.
When we’re younger, it’s easy to get cought up in the big things. The milestones, the accomplishments, the plans we have for our lives, and all the things we hope to achieve. But somewhere along the way, I think we begin to realize that some of life’s greatest blessings aren’t necessarily the big things at all.
They’re the everyday moments.
A phone call from someone we love. A good laugh with an old friend. A quiet morning with a cup of coffee. Time spent with our children or grandchildren. Or simply waking up to another beautiful day.
The older I get, the more I realize just how precious those ordinary moments add up. And that got me thinking. What if we made a little more effort to notice them? Not just at Thanksgiving, but every single day leading up to it.
That’s where my little gratitude jar comes in!
A Little Gratitude Can Go A Long Way
Researchers have found that regularly taking time to recognize the good things in our lives can help improve our mood, encourage optimism, and increase our sense of well being. In fact, a study by psychologists Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough found that people who regularly wrote down things they were grateful for, experienced improvements in certain measures of emotional well being, particularly positive feelings.
I find that fascinating. Something as simple as taking a few minutes to appreciate the good things in our lives may actually help us feel a little happier and more optimistic. Isn’t that something?
Now I’m not suggesting that writing a little note and dropping it into a Mason Jar will magically make all our troubles disappear. Life doesn’t work that way. But perhaps taking a few moments each day to focus on what we’re thankful for can gently shift our perspective.
Instead of ending the day thinking about everything that went wrong, maybe we begin remembering a few things that went right. A kind word. A beautiful sunset. A kind gesture from a stranger. Or, simply the blessing of another ordinary day. Maybe, over time, those little moments of gratitude can help us see our lives through a slightly brighter lens.
That’s certainly worth a few minutes a day, don’t you think?
Gratitude Is Also an Act of Faith
Long before researchers began studying the benefits of gratitude, the Bible was encouraging us to give thanks. One of my favorite reminders comes from this verse:
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
I’ve always thought there was something especially meaningful about those words. We’re encouraged to give thanks in all circumstances, not necessarily for all circumstances.
Because, let’s face it, life isn’t always easy. There are seasons of heartache, disappointment, uncertainty, and change. Sometimes, finding something to be thankful for takes a little more effort. But even in those seasons, God often places small blessings along our paths. We just need to notice them.
Maybe that’s part of what practicing gratitude teaches us. Not to overlook the difficult things, but to remember that they aren’t the whole story. Perhaps, as we begin filling our little jars with thankful moments, we’ll become more aware of the many ways God has been present in our everyday lives.
A little blessing at a time.
Let’s Make a Little Jar of Gratitude!
This year, I thought it would be fun to start a simple Thanksgiving tradition.
Nothing expensive, nothing complicated, and certainly nothing that requires us to be professional crafters. Just a Mason jar or similar, a few slips of paper, and a little willingness to pause and appreciate the good things in our lives.
Here’s the idea.
Beginning November 1st, take a moment each day to write down something you’re thankful for. It can be something big, something small, something funny, or something that simply made you smile. Fold up your little note and place it in your jar.
On Thanksgiving Day, open the jar and read through all those moments of gratitude.
If you’re celebrating with family or friends, invite everyone to participate. You could each have your own jar or share one family jar. Imagine sitting around the Thanksgiving table, reading those little notes together and remembering all the blessings that might otherwise have been forgotten. If it’s just the two of you this Thanksgiving, or you’re spending the holiday quietly on your own, this can be just as meaningful. After all, gratitude isn’t measured by how many people are sitting around out table.
How to Make Your Gratitude Jar
What you’ll need:
One clean Mason jar or any clear jar you already have.
Small slips of paper.
A pen or pencil.
Ribbon, twine, or burlap if you’d like to decorate your jar.
A few artificial autumn leaves (optional).
My free Late Bloomer gratitude printable (optional)
Putting it together:
Start with a clean, dry jar.
If you’d like, cover the lid with a small piece of burlap and secure it with a ribbon or twine.
Add a few little autumn leaves or flowers for a festive touch.
Attach the gratitude tag included on the PDF, or attach another pretty tag to the jar.
Place your gratitude slips nearby, along with a pen.
Each day, write down one thing you’re grateful for, fold the note, and drop it into your jar.
And there you have it! My very own Little Jar of Gratitude. Now I won’t be winning any crafting awards anytime soon, but I think it turned out pretty cute! If your jar ends up looking a little less like something from a craft magazine and a little more homemade, that is perfectly fine. It’s your jar. After all, it’s not about creating something perfect. It’s about taking a few moments each day to appreciate the little blessing in our lives. I happen to think a little homemade charm makes things even more special.
A Little Something From Late Bloomer
To make getting started even easier, I’ve created a free printable that includes two sizes of my “A Little Jar of Gratitude” tag, along with coodinating gratitude notes you can cut apart and use throughout November. They’re decorated in warm autumn colors, with plenty of room to write down your own grateful thoughts.
But please don’t feel you need anything fancy to participate! If you’d rather skip the printer altogether, simply cut a few strips of ordinary or colored paper, grab a pen and you’re ready to begin.
After all, it’s not about how pretty the paper is or how beautifully decorated your jar might be. It’s about taking a moment each day to recognize the little blessings that make life special. Sometimes the simplest things hold the most meaning.
A Thanksgiving Tradition Worth Keeping
One of the things I love most about this idea is that it doesn’t have to end on Thanksgiving. Maybe this becomes something your family looks forward to every November, or perhaps you’ll enjoy it so much that you decide to keep your gratitude going throughout the year. Maybe you have a challenging day, and you need a little reminder just how blessed you are. You can grab your jar and start reading your blessings one at a time.
There will always be worries and disappointments, but there will also be kindness, laughter, beauty, love, and countless little moments worth remembering. Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves to notice them.
So this November, I’m inviting you to join me. Maybe by Thanksgiving, we’ll discover that the little things we almost overlooked were actually some of our greatest blessings.
Now I’d love to hear from you!
Do you have a special Thanksgiving tradition that helps your family remember what matters most? Or, will you be starting a gratitude jar with me this year?
I would love to hear about it!
Until next time, keep blooming, and keep counting those blessings!
