Only 10 more days! Can you believe it?
In the busyness of Christmas I want to pause and gift God a gift. It will be wrapped, but not in tinsel.
Instead, it will be wrapped in the words that come from my lips.
If you came over from Encouragement for Today, welcome! I promised to share a few gratitude conversation starters.
We will have countless opportunities to begin our conversation with words like this:
If only he didn’t. . .
Why can’t they. . .
I’m so. . . [fill in the blank with a negative].
But what might happen if we see our words as gifts for the next week?
Recently my husband (a counselor) said something that absolutely captured my attention. He said, “Our automatic thoughts lead to actions.”
Read that one more time.
Our automatic thoughts lead to actions.
What pops in our head is what leads us to act. It can lead us to negatively impact our loved ones. It can lead to a funk. It can lead to fighting or discord when our heart only wants peace.
If our words become gifts, then how does that change the way we think, and therefore act?
Gratitude conversation starters might look like this:
You are so [fill in the blank with a sincere compliment] and I’m grateful for you.
I am [fill in the blank with a positive word that reflects what you have, rather than what you don’t have]. . . blessed, healthy, whole, warm, fed, surrounded by family. None of us will have all of these things, but we all have some of them.
Thank you God for. . .
I plan to create a gratitude tradition in my home this year. One by one pulling a slip of paper from a small gift-wrapped box as I lift up my gift of words to Him.
What about you?
Share one gratitude starter that you plan to use today.
Thank You, Lord, for spaying my sister’s life. Thank You for a spiritual family who will join me in praying for her salvation and the healing of her extensive injuries.
The gift of words. I love that. What a perfect gift!
Thank you for this and for the neat idea to help my family be more focused on gratitude – pulling a slip of paper from a gift-wrapped box…that’s great!
Thank you for the inspirational gift you gave of your written words. Praising God and thanking Him for all we have are two great ways to honor Him. Extending the gift of grace-filled words and gratitude to our family and friends is a precious gift to Him as well.
Hi Suzanne,
A few days ago I met a nice lady named Doris.
She is a CNA at the hospital.
I asked her if she would wash the mans hair I was visiting. She was so kind and friendly. He and I were watching Courageous the movie when she came back in to check his vital signs. She asked about the movie and told me that she was a Christian too. I mentioned where I purchased the movie, she said she was going to watch it and was excited about it. Then I started talking about 1000 gifts from Ann Voscamp. Counting gifts… Gifts God has already given us. I said, I’m bringing you a copy!
Today I left a copy of the book for her. 🙂
I love giving gifts!
This is exactly what I needed to hear! I have been so stressed with finances and the holidays that it has totally taken my focus off God and all the blessings I have! I am warm, blessed, surrounded by family, healthy, have an awesome husband, children, family & friends!
Thank you for ministering to me!
Michelle
I sure got a kick in the pants from your devotional tonight! Ouch!!
I’ve been so busy thinking about the losses I’ve had this year of my husband, marriage, home, and job while dreading spending Christmas alone with my own pity party……I needed a reminder Christmas isn’t to celebrate me or my birthday! Although I’ve spent most of the year in a deep and dark pit, I have soooo much to thank the Lord for! After all, I am convinced I would not have survived this far except for Him carrying me!
Thank you for the swift kick and reminder.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! These exact thoughts have been on my heart lately & you so very eloquently expressed them!! Printing this out & sharing with my husband and kids at dinner..
Blessings!!
What a wonderful perspective! Focus on thankfulness & blessings will fall!
Thank You!!!!
My gift for Him this year is really something I am giving to my Grandkids. I am getting a nativity set & I plan on Christmas Eve sharing it with them without Baby Jesus, then on Christmas Day adding Baby Jesus & see if they know both times what is missing OR different. Begin this tradition as they grow & learn more about God in their lives.
I have been in sort of a funk myself lately – or at least a few months ago. One thing I found that helped was gratitude. Every time I felt upset/discouraged/sorry for myself, I thought of and wrote down at least one thing I was grateful to God for. It truly helps put things in perspective.
to Ic:
wow – your entry really jumped out at me!! My heart broke as I was reading about the difficulties you’ve faced this year, and yet, you let Suzanne’s words minister to you and shared your thankfulness for what you do have! Wow! Now, that’s faith!! I’m been having my own pity party – and for no good reason….thank you, Ic, for showing me that thankfulness doesn’t come from the “stuff” I have or don’t have, but from my faith in Christ!! May you continue to hang on to your faith in this new year!
Kari